A far more sophisticated approach needs to be taken when developing biofuels as an environmentally-friendly energy option according to a recent report issued by the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management.

Governments should fit biofuels into an overall energy, climate, land-use, water and agricultural strategy if their deployment is to benefit society, the economy and the environment as a whole.

As currently practiced in a country such as Brazil, it can lead to emissions reductions of between 70 percent and well over 100 percent when substituted for petrol.

However, the way in which biofuels are produced matters in determining whether they are leading to more or less greenhouse gas emissions. Conditions under which production of biofuels does lead to higher emissions have been identified in the report.

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Michael Pollan, author, journalist and activist, talks with GristTV in a short interview about the food industry’s relationship to energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and health.

Pollan is a professor of journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. and a former executive editor for Harper’s Magazine whose books include:

• In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto (2008)
• The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (2006)
• The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World (2001)
• A Place of My Own (1997)
• Second Nature A Gardener’s Education (1991).

(Third in a series of three posts).

This weekend, Friday Night at the Movies features a special, 6-part presentation on space-based agricultural sensing and the role it plays in understanding global food production, land and water use, food security, agricultural economics, and monitoring impacts of climate change on growing patterns.

Episodes 5 and 6 of NASA’s, Science for A Hungry World series appear below the fold; links to all appear at bottom.

Episode 5. This episode explores the challenges agriculture faces from dwindling groundwater resources in the face of increasing demand. Also discussed are the GRACE satellites, which enable scientists to discover changes to underground aquifers by monitoring changes in Earth’s gravity.

Episode 6. As the series concludes, NASA researchers look into the likely impacts of global climate change upon agriculture.

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(Second in a series of three posts).

This weekend, Friday Night at the Movies features a special, 6-part presentation on space-based agricultural sensing and the role it plays in understanding global food production, land and water use, food security, agricultural economics, and monitoring impacts of climate change on growing patterns.

Episodes 3 and 4 of NASA’s, Science for A Hungry World series appear below the fold; links to all appear at bottom.

Episode 3. Episode three explores land cover and land use change, including  how remote sensing data is used to measure land given to agricultural use and where farms are in relation to population density. Also discussed are transitions between native vegetation, farms, and cities, and where land use changes have been most significant.

Episode 4. This episode discusses food security and how the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) helps governments and aid agencies assess the need for food aid before a famine develops.

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This weekend, Friday Night at the Movies features a special, 6-part presentation on space-based agricultural sensing and the role it plays in understanding global food production, land and water use, food security, agricultural economics, and monitoring impacts of climate change on growing patterns.

Produced by NASA, Science for A Hungry World explores the application of science and high-flying technology to one of our most basic, down-to-earth endeavors — feeding ourselves.

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A vegan is one who tries to live a life free of animal products. Vegans eat a plant-based diet, with no components from animals: no meat, dairy, eggs or honey. A vegan lifestyle also avoids leather, wool, silk and other animal products for clothing or other merchandise, and animal tested products.

The Vegan Society, founded in 1944, who sponsors World Vegan Month, suggests that non-vegans take the pledge in November to go vegan for a day, a week or month.
As environmentally conscious people, trying to lessen our impact, we must also examine our eating habits. The case for Veganism, and its less strict cousin, Vegetarianism, grows as the negative health implications of consuming animal fats and proteins are revealed. Coupled with the effects of factory farming on the environment, and the inherent animal cruelty, a meatless diet, or a diet with less meat, certainly becomes more compelling.

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The Environment and Public Works Committee of the US Senate was scheduled to begin mark-up on the Boxer-Kerry climate bill today, but was thwarted as all seven Republican members made good on last week’s threat to boycott the meeting. Members of the Republican minority also boycotted the committee’s October 27 open hearing on climate and energy policies related to the bill.

Leading today’s boycott were Sens. George Voinovich (R-OH) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN). In threatening the move last week, Voinovich called for additional review of the Boxer-Kerry bill by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To date, the EPA has released a short analysis of the bill, but in agreeing to a more in-depth study indicated that it would require five weeks or more.

While there may appear to be some utility in requesting a more thorough evaluation, it is not unreasonable to view Voinovich’s call as little more than a delaying tactic. Assuming the bill ever leaves committee, it would go before the full Senate, where it is most certain to be debated at length and modified through numerous amendments — a process that would render irrelevant a more extensive of the legislation in its current form.

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On Thursday, Congress approved $475 million to restore the Great Lakes by combating invasive species, cleaning up highly polluted sites and expanding wetlands, reports the Detroit News.

The bill also includes $131 million to finance wastewater and drinking water projects in Michigan, $11.2 million for 14 projects in the state, and $1 million for mass marking of hatchery fish in the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative includes:

• $146 million for cleaning up pollution in sediment in feeder rivers and harbors before it flows into the Lakes.
• $105 million to protect and restore habitat and wildlife.
• $97 million to stop “nonpoint” pollution, such as farm fertilizer and oil runoff, that closes beaches and leads to fish kills.
• $65 million to evaluate how the Lakes and wildlife are responding to cleanup efforts.
• $60 million for combating zebra mussels and other invasive species.

Climate Change, Human Rights Top Sustainability Priorities for Business Leaders at BSR Conference

From EthicalMarkets.com:

Climate change and human rights are the most significant priorities for business’ sustainability efforts in the year ahead, according to the “BSR/GlobeScan State of Sumarcstainable Business Poll 2009” of 274 business leaders from 15 countries who attended the BSR Conference 2009 in San Francisco.

What Are Coral Reef Services Worth?

Between $130,000 and $1.2 million per hectacre, according to ScienceDaily:

Experts have revealed jaw-dropping dollar values of the “ecosystem services” of biomes like forests and coral reefs — including food, pollution treatment and climate regulation.

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The largest photovoltaic solar power plant in the US went online this Tuesday, eighty miles southeast of Tampa, amid the citrus trees and cattle farms of Arcadia, Florida.

With its 25-megawatt output capacity, the Desoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center built by Florida Power and Light generates nearly twice as much power as the facility it surpassed – enough to power 3,000 homes and businesses. Occupying 180 acres, the plant cost $150 million to build and is the first of three plants Florida Power and Light has announced. According to the company, the three facilities together will generate 110-megawatts of power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 3.5 million tons – the equivalent of taking 25,000 cars off the road each year.

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Earlier this month, US President Obama signed an Executive Order on Federal Sustainability commmiting the Federal government to lead by example, adopting more eco-friendly practices and helping build a clean energy economy.

As part of its effort, the administration launched the GreenGov Challenge, in which Federal employees and members of the military are encouraged to participate by submitting their ideas and voting on others at www.whitehouse.gov/greengov.

Suggestions can be submitted in six main categories.

• Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: New strategies for how we use energy, travel, and commute can help lower our carbon footprint;
• Conserving Energy: Making Federal buildings, fleets, and electronics more efficient saves energy and money;
• Conserving Water: Using native plants for landscaping and reusing water to flush toilets are just two examples;
• Eliminating Waste: Reduce, reuse, and recycle (and compost!) are just the beginning. How can we close the loop?
• Sustainable Products and Purchasing: How can Federal purchasing power support great clean tech companies that create American jobs?
• Sustainable Buildings: We spend, on average, 90% of our days indoors. How can our Federal workspaces be more efficient and healthier?

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Are Coral Reefs Beyond Saving?

BBC News reports that prospects of saving the world’s coral reefs now appear so bleak that scientists have recommended freezing samples in liquid nitrogen to preserve them for the future so that, should global temperatures be stabilized, corals could be reintroduced.

If you’re wondering whether the situation is really that bad, read this.

Study Claims Use of Biofuels Risks Worsening Carbon Emissions if Land Use Is Not Considered

Planet Ark, reporting on a study published last Thursday in Science:

Governments and companies are pouring billions of research dollars into advanced fuels made from wood and grass, meant to cut carbon emissions compared with gasoline, and not compete with food as corn-based biofuels do now.

But such advanced, “cellulosic” biofuels will actually lead to higher carbon emissions than gasoline per unit of energy, averaged over the 2000-2030 time period, the study found.

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