The GREEN MARKET ORACLE

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Infographic - Water

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Debunking Efforts to Undermine the Latest IPCC Report

Climate deniers began working to undermine the fifth Climate Assessment from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) even before the first part of the report was released on September 27. A plethora of media outlets, politicians and business interests are employing a barrage of misinformation tactics to undermine the report.

A misguided article published in The Telegraph made that outlandish claim that, “There is no other evidence out there that global warming is any kind of problem. That it exists only in the imagination of the people who programme those computer models and the scientists who contribute to the theory that anthropogenic CO2 is a problem.”

The biennial Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is a platform to showcase the world’s most efficient electric cars. In addition to presenting leading solar technology the event also inspires young people to address the imperatives of sustainable transport.

Solar car teams from 23 countries are competing in one of the world's most prestigious and grueling sun powered car races. By the end of the race cars will have traveled a total 3000 kms through the Australian Outback. However, the event is about far more than a long distance car race. The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge showcases innovation, adventure and achievement and brings cutting edge renewable energy technology to the forefront in an effort to find a sustainable future for the planet.

Economic Benefits of Going from Brown to Green in Europe and Central Asia

According to the World Bank, there are tremendous benefits driving Europe and Central Asia to transition toward a greener economic growth model emphasizing climate change mitigation. Until the early 90s countries in Europe and Central Asia were dominated by the former Soviet Union, now they are transiting from a brown economy to green growth.

Europe and Central Asia are already experiencing floods, droughts, heat waves, forest fires, and other natural disasters. To illustrate the point, the region lost between one quarter and one half of their grain crops in 2012 due to extreme weather.

This complimentary Verdantix webinar will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 4.00pm - 5.00pm (UK), 11am - 12 noon (EDT), 8am - 9am (PST). For over 20 years the dominant narrative for business discussions on climate change has been shaped by scientific data and forecasts, ethical considerations and government policy. Non-profits, media, scientists and politicians implored business leaders to change their investment decisions to fight climate change. In response, corporations in developed economies have gathered their GHG data and launched sustainability communications campaigns. In addition, utilities have invested in large-scale renewable energy and a small minority of firms have sought to make absolute reductions in GHG emissions. But the prevailing scientific-ethical paradigm has failed to engage the vast majority of business leaders and redirect significant flows of investment capital to climate change programs. Based on an assessment of business opportunities as well as risks, this Verdantix webinar offers a profit-centric paradigm for executives to make sense of climate change for their business.

Our oceans are at risk from a combination of acidification, warming waters and decreasing oxygen. According to scientists this could lead to a mass extinction of key species.

On Thursday October 3, Scientists from the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) published their biennial State of the Oceans report. The oceans are more acidic now than they’ve been at any time in the last 300 million years. In addition to the alarming findings in this study indicating that current levels of acifification are “unprecedented” the survey also states that the overall health of the ocean is declining much faster than expected.

NJDEP Air Compliance & Enforcement (ACE) Training/Outreach Seminar will take place on October 9, 2013, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the New Jersey Forensic Science Technology Center, 1200 Negron Drive, Hamilton, NJ. This training will provide information on multiple air pollution topics. The event will begin with a brief update on current efforts within our Air program, followed by an update on the new General Permits. The event will continue with an overview of the Non-Technical Amendment, and how one goes about completing and submitting the form. Do the terms NOV, AONOCAPA, ACO have you confused? We will also provide an overview of all Enforcement Documents.

Workshop - PADEP Regional Keystone Energy Education Program Workshop

PADEP Regional Keystone Energy Education Program Workshop will take place on October 24, 2013 at the Pennsylvania College of Technology’s General Services Building. 2245 Reach RoadWilliamsport, Lycoming County, Pa. Sign-in: 8:15 a.m. Program: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.Registration is free.

The Natural Step Canada - Strategic Sustainable Development for Higher Education is a complimentary Webinar that will take place on Thursday, October 24, 2013. This is an Online event.

During this interactive webinar they will share examples of how The Natural Step has worked with higher education institutions to establish leadership on sustainability. They will focus on practical tools applied to enable innovation in this space.

For more information and to register click here.

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Courses - Carbon Professional Path (CPP)

Carbon Professional Path (CPP) will take place on Tuesday Oct 22 to Wednesday Oct 23, 2013, Toronto, Ontario. The Carbon Professional Path is a groundbreaking program that will prepare you in obtaining a CSA Greenhouse Gas Inventory Qualifier; a globally recognized certification. The certification demonstrates your competence to quantify, assess and report GHG emissions and HRCarbon is the only global provider of a pre-CSA GHG Inventory Quantifier exam program. This learning event is organized by HR Carbon.

The Natural Step Canada Level 1 Sustainability Course: Foundations in Strategy will take place on Wednesday Oct 9, 2013, in Ottawa, Ontario. The course is titled "A Transformative Approach to Innovation, Strategy, and Results."

Event - Sandy One Year Later Conference

Sandy One Year Later Conference will take place on October 29, 2013. New Jersey Future invites you to join us at Monmouth University in W. Long Branch for a day-long conference focused on the Sandy recovery process. Distinguished speakers, including former governors James Florio and Christine Todd Whitman and retired U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, will highlight the economic and planning impacts of Sandy and of potential future storms, and will discuss things New Jersey and its municipalities need to be doing in order to be better prepared for the next severe weather event. There is no charge to attend, but because space is limited, registration is required.

Rutgers: Environmental Forensics will take place on October 17, 2013 in Sayreville, NJ. Environmental forensics is a multidisciplinary field with the goal of understanding how and when contamination occurred, as well as who is responsible for the pollution. Environmental forensics investigations may involve identifying and apportioning responsibility among multiple parties, age-dating releases and/or determining exactly how a release occurred with reference to insurance or other contractual issues.

Click here for more information or to register.

Event - New Jersey Solar Market Update 2013

New Jersey Solar Market Update will take place on October 17, 2013. Registration and networking breakfast 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This event will take place at the The Venetian 546 River Drive Garfield, NJ. Thanks to aggressive new legislation, New Jersey's SREC market has stabilized and New Jersey continues to be one of the most dynamic and fastest growing solar markets in the country. New legislation and subsequent regulatory actions have resulted in significant improvements to New Jersey's solar landscape.

Green Materials and Services Expo will take place on October 10, 2013, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at HSBC Plaza, 100 Chestnut Street in Rochester, NY. The Genesee Region of the US Green Building Council NY Upstate Chapter's 'Green Materials and Services Expo' is an excellent way for your company to specifically reach your preferred customer market. Last year this event was held in the Hudson Valley, and featured 23 exhibitors and a lot of fun! Meet your peers. Learn from each other and collaborate to grow!

Click here for more information or to register.

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Event - Campus Sustainability Day (CSD)

Campus Sustainability Day (CSD) is a nation wide event that will take place on October 23, 2013. Since 2003, CSD has been a time to reflect on the success of the sustainability movement in higher education. The theme for Campus Sustainability Day 2013 is “Climate Adaptation: Resilient Campuses & Communities.” The supporting organizations of CSD invite you to join this year’s keynote broadcast, organize and share events on your campus, and engage in the conversation.

EcoDistrict Practioners: Accelerating District-Scale Sustainability will take place on Tuesday Oct 29, 2013, in Ottawa, Ontario at Algonquin College's LEED Platinum certified Centre for Construction Excellence. Get practical tools to accelerate district-scale sustainability at the EcoDistricts workshop. Sponsored by Holcim, this one-day workshop aims to introduce consultants, architects, planners, and municipal staff to an exciting new approach to sustainable community planning. Workshop participants will learn strategies for organizing stakeholders, financing projects, providing policy support, and developing project priorities. Participants will earn seven GBCI CE hours.

Beyond Green Environmental Youth Summit will take place on Friday October 25 to Sunday October 27, 2013, in Toronto, Ontario. This event is from Earth Day Canada's Ecomentors and will take place at the University of Toronto. This summit will explore environmental issues from every angle and develop strategies to spark change in your community. Whatever your passion, there is a path. Whether you’re an artist, scientist, frontline activist, or new to the scene, Beyond Green provides the techniques, tools, and connections you need to take action.

CEB® Clean Energy Building Expo will take place on Wednesday October 9 to Thursday October 10, 2013, in Budapest, Hungary. The CEB® Clean Energy Building Expo is an international trade fair and congress for energy efficiency. At the exhibition you will receive extensive information on the products, technologies, services and innovations in the area of energy efficient buildings and reconstruction.

The Eco Chic fashion Show will take place today, Sunday, Oct 6, 2013, Markham, Ontario at the Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre & Spa located at 8500 Warden Ave in Markham from 11 am to 9 pm. This event was organized by the Simply Green Unique Events and it supports and raises awareness for OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network on behalf of the Canadian Blood Services.

• Exhibitors show (11 pm- 6pm)
• Dj & Music
• Prizes
• Parking
• Fashion show times @2pm and 4pm
• Celebrities are invited
• Cash bar @5:30 pm
• Refreshments, snacks
• After party celebration! @7:00 pm

Video - Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile

When the dotcom bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what you count.

Video - See the Connection Between Clothes and Pollution in Thread The Documentary Trailer

This video educates consumers on how fashion and textile production effects our health and the health of our environment.

Video - Women and Climate Change

Recently female scientists and leaders from more than 35 countries around the globe met in Suffern, New York - to discuss the relationship between climate change policy and women's empowerment. The first International Women's Earth and Climate Initiative summit included panel discussions on topics like food security - fossil fuels and transitioning to clean-energy alternatives.

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Video - Building Powered by Algae

There is a building in Hamburg, Germany, and developed entirely by algae. Inside the glass panels is a green liquid which can see small bubbles rising to the surface. This is the result of having a bio-reactor built into the facade, which heats the 15 floors in the building. The motor is a micro algae, and the principle is photosynthesis.

Video - Show Your Support for the Arctic 30 on October 5: Defending the North is Not a Crime

On 19 September, 28 Greenpeace International activists, a freelance photographer and a freelance videographer were arrested under armed guard off the Russian coast after a peaceful protest against Arctic oil drilling. On 2 and 3 October, all 30 of them were formally charged with piracy and if convicted, they could face up to 15 years in a Russian prison.

Should Green Apply to the Brown Economy?

A new report suggests that brown industries should be encouraged to participate in the green economy. According to a TD Economics report titled "The Greening of the Canadian Economy," released on October 2, 2013, Canada's "green economy" is too narrowly defined and as a consequence it risks excluding of some of the sustainability efforts being made by many 'brown' companies, such as those in oil and mining.

The report calls for a new, holistic approach to better evaluate and measure environmental performance across all sectors and suggests Canadians should change the way they think about the relationship between the environment and the economy from a green-brown dichotomy to a more balanced and broad-based approach through "the greening of the economy."

In a preceding post we reviewed four economic systems and their implications for the environment. In this post we take a look at the environmental implications of three types of economies (Brown, Blue and Green) and their environmental implications. It should be stated at the outset that most modern economies are an admixture of all three.

Brown Economy

A brown economy is one in which economic growth is largely dependent on environmentally destructive forms of activity, especially fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

One of the byproducts of this form of economy are massive levels of climate change causing greenhouse gas (GHG) which includes carbon dioxide and methane.

Different types of economic system have overarching implications for the environment and the management of the climate crisis. Economic systems determine the way a state or nation allocates its resources and apportions goods and services in the national community. Economic systems determine production, distribution and consumption as a function of a philosophical orientation.

While there are a number of economic systems we can divide them into four basic classes: The traditional economy, the market economy, the command economy and the mixed economy.

Here is an explanation of each of these four economic systems and their respective environmental implications:

NWF's Campus Ecology Fellowships

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is an environmental leader and since 2000 they have awarded over 170 Campus Ecology Fellowships to US undergraduate and graduate students engaging global warming related issues.

Students are awarded Fellowships for projects ranging from campus-wide energy audits to implementing sustainable forestry practices. In addition to recognition, Fellows receive a modest monetary grant, project support and leadership development.

In 2013, NWF is offering an Emerging Leaders Fellowship track that awards Fellowships to post-graduate, young professionals (ages 21-35) interested in career development and leadership opportunities within the conservation movement. These Fellows are provided with leadership opportunities, skills training and seed funding for their entrepreneurial efforts.

Southface, a nonprofit leader in the promotion of sustainable homes, workplaces and communities, presented their 2013 Argon Award for unique achievement and leadership in sustainability to The Kendeda Fund.

The Kendeda Fund widely promotes sustainable and efficient practices, through a number of channels including pulpit-based messaging, community involvement and higher education arenas. The Fund has contributed over $400 million to organizations that promote sustainability, social equity, human achievement.

In addition to being harmful to the economy, the government shutdown has a wide range of impacts on the environment, energy and climate research.

A number of departments are being prevented from doing their jobs including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Almost all of the EPA's 16,000 employees have been furloughed. The small number of staff who will stay on the job are funded outside the appropriations process. A few others will remain to ensure “the safety of human life and the protection of property,” as stipulated in the EPA contingency plan.

Greenpeace Report - Dealing in Doubt: A Chronicle of Climate Denial

The full title of this Greenpeace publication is Dealing in Doubt: The Climate Denial Machine vs. Climate Science. This report addresses the ways in which climate deniers propagate doubt to undermine credible scientific evidence linking human activity to global warming. It was released ahead of the Fifth Assessment report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This updated version of their March 2010 report details the ongoing attempts to attack the integrity of individual climate scientists and their work.

Vermont Law School is offering an Masters in Environmental Law. Understanding environmental legislation, enforcement and law-making is imperative. This degree is ideal for those who are seeking to make an organization more economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. Through this degree you can learn the skills that improve efficiency and ensure environmental, human, and employee health in your organization. The degree opens the doors to careers in nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and private industry.

ON-Line Green/Sustainability Project Management

ON-Line Green Sustainability Project Management is accessible Anywhere, it is also recorded so you never miss a session. This program addresses how the drivers of sustainability impact the Project Management (PM) discipline. It is designed for sustainability project managers or Project Managers in a company with a sustainability strategy.

According to Michelle, a writer who works for the US Fish and Wildlife Services, the government shutdown is having deleterious impacts on America’s natural resources. The Department of Interior is no longer overseeing the complex web of ecosystems and habitats. America's National parks are not being cared for, habitats are being harmed and threatened species are at risk.

As Michelle explains, the biologists, civil engineers, educators, and regulators that are employed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service are being prevented from doing their work protecting a vast number of species and habitats. This group is already being forced to work overtime to manage staff reductions as a consequence of the sequester earlier this year. Now they are being furloughed while they wait for Republicans to come to their senses. Sadly, it might be a very long wait.

Non-Profit Groups and Scientists React to the Fifth IPCC Report

Environmental groups and other non-profit NGOs have reacted positively to the IPCC AR5 summary for policy makers. In addition to supporting the report's scientific conclusions, they are advocating immediate action. Unsurprisingly scientists have also responded positively to the report and are also calling for urgent action.

Here is a brief summary of some of the responses.

The huge new climate report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states with more clarity than ever before that humans are to blame for climate change.

"Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia."

With 95 percent certainty (up from 90 percent in 2007, 66 percent in 2001 and 50 percent in 1995) scientists attribute climate change to human activities, especially burning fossil fuels. The IPCC further states that humans have most likely caused all of the global warming over the past 60 years.

As of midnight last night the fiscal year expired and the US government began shutting down. House Republicans are being intransigent and their attempt to tie the budget to Obamacare amounts to extortion. Led by the Tea Party extremists, the GOP has been steadfast in their refusal to pass the 2014 federal budget by the end of the fiscal year. Republicans are trying to derail the implementation of health care reform, even though US lawmakers voted for it in 2010 and the American people expressed their support when given the choice in 2012.

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