USEPA Blog – How would you use Web 2.0 to protect environment

You can find links to other wikis, blogs, forums, etc. on this site.

City of Ottawa moves closer to “clean” technology for waste diversion

The City of Ottawa took another step towards reducing the footprint of its residents. They will soon issue a letter of intent for Plasco Energy to build a waste conversion facility, which will help reduce the amount of waste that goes to our landfills.

A recent release states:

City moves forward with new clean technology for waste management

Ottawa City Council approved a resolution giving authority to the City Manager to issue a letter of intent for development by Plasco Energy Group Inc. (PlascoEnergy) of a Waste Conversion Facility to process the residual household waste that would otherwise be disposed of in the City’s landfill.

The agreement will be subject to the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) issuing a Certificate of Approval respecting environmental performance. This approval may be given only when information satisfactory to MOE is provided by PlascoEnergy.

Through our partnership with Plasco the City hopes to move beyond the current demonstration facility to a commercial-scale operation, which has the potential to provide economic benefit to the City through revenue sharing arrangements, as well as providing an environmentally friendly solution for household waste.

http://www.plascoenergygroup.com/

Discovery Channel Video: http://www.plascoenergygroup.com/?Discovery_Video

India unveils National Action Plan on Climate Change

The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, recently unveiled a National Action plan on climate change. This plan has been strategically designed to promote sustainable development, but without any commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Read this Time of India article to get more information about the plan.

Perhaps this is a first step to promote sustainable development and encourage the use of renewable forms of energy.

Desforestation is happening

I realize that the course is long over, but I came across this article that I thought might interest some.   Specifically, it addresses the heated topic discussed at lunch a few weeks ago.  There are some skeptics out there who do not believe that deforestation is happening and that all is rosey.   While the rate at which we are cutting trees is slowing, there is still a lot of work to be done to bring it to a sustainable level.  

Take a look   http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/06/24/f-vanishing-forests.html

 

 

Sustainable development and finance

Sustainable development becomes a reality for the world of finance.

Indeed, a growing amount of money is invested in environmental funds. For example, in Europe according to Watson Wyatt, a investment consultants, 15.2 % of net investments in equity funds were invested into environmental funds during the first seven months of 2007, against 2.6 per cent during the whole of 2006.

This accelerating trend is due to the fact that asset managers take into account environmental and corporate governance issues in their investment decisions.

These funds ($ 4000 bn) are invested, on the long term, in companies which are committed in the sustainable development path. Asset managers are helped by extra financial rating agencies ( like Vigeo) which give a rating to a company for its commitment in environmental, human resources,…..

New financial products have been launched like “green” fixed income, real estate funds and funds trading in carbon credits. Some hedge funds invest in carbon credits.

This kind of investment will increase due to the fact that performances are better than stock market indices over long periods. If finance begin to believe that sustainable development a key issue for the future, it could be a good news for the planet..

Antoine

Financial Times, Investors jump on environmental wagon by Kate Burgess, published June 3 2008