Exploration of Minerals, Oil and Gas should not be used within the World Heritage Sites
World Heritage natural sites must maintain high standards, represent a commitment to the future
The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO will launch its annual meeting on June 19 in Paris. The Committee will announce which are the outstanding natural and cultural areas, to be added to the List of World Heritage sites. This year will examine proposals for 42 sites.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an advisory body of the Convention for natural sites, will present its recommendations to the Committee, after specialized studies related to new iconic natural areas added to the prestigious list. 13 sites have been registered as candidates, outstanding for its natural values.
“Natural Heritage Convention turns 40 next year,” about it, Julia Marton-Lefèvrela IUCN Director General, said: “It’s an opportunity to celebrate their successes, but also to make some much-needed reforms to strengthen its role unique exceptional preservation of these sites, as well as their contribution to sustainable development.”
“They have expressed some concerns about a growing politicization of the Convention,” says Tim Badman, Director of IUCN’s World Heritage. “This meeting is important for strengthening the profile of the Convention concerning the application of the highest technical standards to make decisions that enhance conservation outcomes at the field level.”
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Climate Change Favors the Exploitation of Oil, Minerals and Diamonds in the Arctic
Several conflicts are generated in the seas today, after searching for new sources of energy resources, and now it was the turn of the cold Arctic waters.
Although the scenario becomes more bleak and dividends for decades with little interest, has unleashed the black gold fever frozen, after thawing due to global warming and the revelation of the Geological Survey of the United States, that there is the 25 percent of the hydrocarbons to be discovered on the planet.
According to the study, the Arctic, where territorially converge United States, Russia, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Finland has the second largest reserve of oil, behind only those of Zagros, Iran.
From the shores of Greenland could extract about 45 billion barrels of oil, a figure that would supply global consumption for a year and a half, plus minerals and diamonds becoming more affordable.
“The paradox is that climate change favors Arctic exploration. The oil companies do believe in climate change,” says Mariano Marzo, Professor of Energy at the University of Barcelona, before the advance of new niche.
On August 16 the Arctic ice last occupied 5.95 million square kilometers, 22 percent less than the average for 1979-2000, according to Ice Data Center and U.S. Snow.
That amount was the lowest figure since satellite measurements began in 1979. In one of the glaciers in the region fell off a plate that doubles in size to the city of Barcelona this pace may confirm scientists’ predictions that there could melt all the ice in the summer of 2070, as proof of its high sensitivity face of rising global temperatures.
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Failure of Negotiations in Durban, Accelerates the Onset of Climate Catastrophe
The climate negotiations that culminated in the UN on December 11 in Durban were a failure to further undermine the multilateral system defective and inadequate it is supposed to help address the climate crisis, said Friends of the Earth International.
Developed countries resorted to rhetorical tricks rather than acting, not pledged to cut emissions dramatically, something that is sorely needed, and fell on previous commitments to solve the climate crisis.
The outcome of the negotiations in Durban, classified by some as a setback, actually meant:
- There was no breakthrough in fair and binding actions to reduce emissions.
- There were no developments in the climate fund, which is urgently needed.
- Increased the likelihood of further expansion of the false solutions like carbon trading.
- The destruction of legally binding international framework for action to achieve climate on the basis of science and equity.
Although developing countries resisted the destructive proposals on the table in Durban, Durban final outcome involves:
1. A new “Durban Platform” which will take a decade for climate action – Instead of implementing the existing roadmap, ambitious and fair agreed in Bali four years ago in Durban, a new process was agreed to launch negotiations for a new treaty.
2. A considerable weakening of the Kyoto Protocol – The Kyoto Protocol is the only legally binding international framework that developed countries reduce their emissions. These countries are responsible for 75% of emissions in the atmosphere, despite being home to only 15% of the population. The second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol has not been formally agreed and only covers the European Union and some other developed countries.
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Global Campaign for Climate Justice Demand
International negotiations on climate change is one of the areas that require concerted efforts. Several organizations have worked collectively in a call for a global campaign for climate justice, from now on to Durban and beyond. We invite everyone to join this global campaign and to sign the call as an expression of their commitment.
We are movements and organizations engaged in numerous struggles for a new world, a world in which the needs, interests, rights and aspirations of all peoples have priority over the profit of corporations and the excesses of the elite. In the year ahead, our solidarity and collective action are extremely crucial. Climate change is already devastating impacts globally and is accelerating. The margin that we have to prevent rupture occurring in critical situations and to stop climate catastrophe is shrinking rapidly.
Climate change is much more than a multiplication of the sufferings of people already overwhelmed by the injustice of hunger, dispossession and violation of human rights. It is a crisis also threatens to wipe out vast populations and profoundly change life on Earth. We must act with clarity, cohesion and courage if we are to stabilize the climate system on the planet and ensure a just and sustainable world.
Like other global crises, climate change arises mainly from economic and social structures historically unequal, practices and policies pursued by rich countries, industrialized, and production and consumption systems that sacrifice the needs of most interest in terms of a minority. Affected peoples of the world have very little responsibility for the climate crisis, yet suffer its worst effects and lack the means to respond to it.
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Global Warming: How is it Calculated its Impact?
The fact that a collapse of civilization be no possibility unlikely, and therefore fit that in the not too distant future, instead of arguing about the feet of beach lost in the tourist areas, or about the costs marginal increase in elderly deaths from heat waves, we are estimating how many small groups of hunter-gatherers, they managed to survive in the steppes of a Europe devastated and impoverished, the fact that such a collapse is possible should be sufficient to promote policies ambitious to fight climate change. We can not continue to bury our heads in the sand and postponing the effective action: time is running out.
Some of the major disagreements have to do with the procedures used by economic analysts in translating biophysical to socioeconomic impacts. Regarding the problem of vast implications of global warming, reappear difficult scientific issues that have fueled heated debates between the orthodox economic establishment on the one hand, and secondly the new prospects opened up by the green economy (and in part by the environmental economics) over the past decades. A way of targeting the underlying problem is that suggested by Francisco Javier Rubio de Urquia: “While we continue using models limited, almost exclusively, the cost analysis of the quantitative level, we are not able to have a more comprehensive view that allows us to properly assess costs and qualitative benefits, for example, derived from the burden borne by the nature and the services it provides. The mere thought that technological progress and market forces are sufficient to alleviate environmental problems under pricing evidence, if not contempt, which has been nature. Believe that we act as if we self-sufficient and, thanks to technology, we are able to cater for all goods and services it provides, and which are vital to our existence, only reflects a high dose of arrogance and over not less than ignorance.”
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Erosion on the beach has deteriorated
Since the construction of port and jetties, natural erosive phenomenon has worsened. In addition, the gradual change in the direction of the waves by the displacement of the cyclone-and sea-level rise is to worsen the picture. A palliative, although expensive, would be to dredge the harbor mouth to reconstitute the natural flow of sand.
The beach erosion marplatensesSi Mar del Plata well enjoy it from its status as a major seaside resort, this matrix is being challenged tourist from erosion phenomenon affecting beaches. Today, this problem not only of concern to its residents and tourists each year, which have less surface area of the beach-but, as if it were a domino effect, the consequences have become visible in other seaside resorts located to the north.
To understand more about the erosion in this area, Thelma contacted the doctor in geology Jorge Codignotto, a researcher at the University of Buenos Aires and CONICET. Going back to the origins of the problem, Codignotto explained that “in Mar del Plata there is a marine drift current that leads north sandy material. When in 1914 it became the south jetty of the port, the circuit is interrupted. And then the coast just north of the south breakwater of the contribution was devoid of sand. It was a mild coastal erosion, but it was magnified. “
“Between 1918 and 1919-continued the researcher became the north jetty and a few years later, he formed a beach south of the first breakwater which accumulated material. Exactly, that was the sand that would not reach the beaches located to the north. And so all the costs began to erode. “
In an attempt to halt the erosion process, between 1922 and ’80, were built several jetties. That is a cross-shore structures, aimed at trapping sand that migrated from the south, but that did not meet their missions. According to the geologist, “derived sand along the south jetty and there was deposited exactly where material should not be placed.” And besides, “all the sand that were caught with the breakwaters, sand was not reached the northern beaches, which accentuated the erosion.” Read the rest of this entry »
Coastal erosion and its impact on marine ecosystems
Caja Madrid and the Coastal Ecology Institute (IEL) have signed an agreement to control the degradation of the coast of Alicante and its effects on marine communities of special ecological significance.
One of the main objectives of the project is to study the effect of erosion on the prairies of Posidonia oceanica
The IEL project aims to provide a monitoring system of coastal erosion and its effects on marine ecosystems in several municipalities in Alicante including Natura 2000 European Directive on the conservation of biodiversity. Municipalities are Guardamar, Santa Pola, Alicante, El Campello, Torrevieja and Benidorm.
From a historical perspective, we will analyze the alterations in the coastal and marine communities until today.
Effect of waves on a beach house in Guardamar
Effect of waves on a beach house in Guardamar
Thus, we will study the influence of the main factors that have led to changes in the coastline. These principles include, feedback from beaches, decreased input from rivers, building ports and promenades, and so on. They provide solutions to the government to reduce or try to correct the different conditions.
Through this initiative is to educate both the society and government on how to produce coastal erosion and the effects it has on the environment. To accomplish this, we will develop a multidisciplinary study covering aspects oceanographic, meteorological and geographical factors.
Coastal Ecology Institute is a Valencian Community Foundation whose main function is to contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems, coastal and land through research, conducting technical work, counseling and encouraging respect for our natural environment.
The protection and care of the environment is one of the cornerstones of the Obra Social Caja Madrid, which each year contributes to this through various actions such as the announcement of grants to environmental projects and the implementation of activities and exhibitions that aim raise public awareness about the need to protect the environment.
Advances in solar photovoltaics
Advances in solar energy happen constantly. It’s a shame that they would not have occurred before or had invested more in this type of research a few years ago. If so we would have sold cheap solar energy. It takes a long time since I have an idea, it is tested and then finally (if it works) is marketed.
It is also unfortunate that issue is so politicized and subject to all sorts of obscure interests. We need cold, clear accounting analysis that allow us to make good decisions, even on a personal level. It seems, however, which is approaching the day where every individual can become self-sufficient power at a reduced price and independent power companies. We will see below some progress and results on this field have been made public during the last week.
Xiaoyang Zhu University of Texas at Austin and his colleagues have succeeded in demonstrating that it is possible to increase the efficiency of conventional cells significantly [1], [2]. Has shown that you can double the number of electrons collected when a photon impinges on semiconductors. Usually some of the electrons produced during the photovoltaic phenomenon are lost and only produce heat instead of useful electricity. This is even more critical in photovoltaic plastics, which are performing poorly. But on the other hand, production of such photocells is dirt cheap, so if it could increase its efficiency and life would have solved the problem of solar energy.
Maximum performance in silicon has been achieved so far is 31% in the laboratory, if you managed to recover these “hot electrons” that are normally lost as heat could achieve yields of 66%. Read the rest of this entry »
Wind Energy Experts on Air Pollution
The school eCatedrase pleased to present the professional course and Wind Energy Expert in Air Pollution, an opportunity to learn in depth the issues related to climate change and its influence on the development of wind energy.
We live in times where global warming and air pollution take a greater role in the agenda of modern societies. Such problems require a thorough analysis to be conducted throughout the course of Wind Energy and Atmospheric Pollution, providing a hedge against the current scenario prevailing in the legal and political systems.
eCátedra gives you the opportunity to go beyond the study of management costs, quality and water desalination, we are talking about essential training for professionals and high competitiveness, as technicians capable of entering water pipes, identifying problems in a leak of water, and unfolding in laboratory water effectively. For this purpose, a schedule of estimated assessments and personalized.
To achieve the objective, students have the opportunity to do their internship in big-name companies, approaching the real conditions of work and gain experience in the sector. For more information, visit the training center eCatedra.
The level of risk against air pollution
Many studies have shown links between pollution and health effects. Increases in air pollution have been linked to grief in lung function and increases in heart attacks. High levels of air pollution according to the Air Quality Index of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, for its acronym in English) directly harm people with asthma and other lung or heart disease. The overall air quality has improved over the past 20 years, but urban areas are still a concern. The elderly and children are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.
The level of risk depends on several factors:
- The amount of air pollution,
- The amount of air we breathe in a moment
- The general health.
Other less direct ways in which people are exposed to air pollutants are:
- Consumption of food contaminated with air toxics have been deposited where they grow,
- Consumption of water contaminated with substances from the air,
- Ingestion of contaminated soil
- Contact with soil, dust or water.
This type of air pollution
- Gaseous pollutants: indoor and outdoor environments vapors and gaseous pollutants appear in different concentrations. The most common gaseous pollutants are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and ozone. Different sources produce these chemicals, but the main freshwater source is the burning of fossil fuels. Indoor air pollution is caused by the consumption of snuff, the use of certain building materials, cleaning products and home furnishings. The gaseous air pollutants come from volcanoes, fires and industry. The most commonly recognized air pollution is smog (smog). The smog generally refers to a condition caused by the action of sunlight on automobile exhaust and factories.
- The greenhouse prevents some of the heat received from the sun leave the atmosphere and back into space. This warms the surface of the earth in what is known as the greenhouse effect. There is a certain amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that are absolutely necessary to heat the earth, but in due proportion. Activities such as burning carbon fuels increase that proportion and the greenhouse effect increases. Many scientists believe is occurring due to global warming. Other gases that contribute to the problem include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), methane, nitrous oxides and ozone.
- Acid rain is formed when moisture in the air combines with nitrogen oxide or sulfur dioxide emitted by factories, power plants and vehicles that burn coal or oil. This chemical combination of gases with water vapor to form sulfuric acid and nitric acids, substances that fall to the ground as precipitation or acid rain. The contaminants that can form acid rain can travel long distances, and the winds move thousands of miles before plunging with dew, drizzle, or rain, hail, snow or fog normal, that becomes acidic when combined with these gases. Read the rest of this entry »
Air pollution causes environmental damage
Air pollution is produced as a result of the release of toxic substances. It can cause disorders such as burning eyes and nose, irritation and itching of the throat and breathing problems. Under certain circumstances, some chemicals found in polluted air can cause cancer, birth defects, brain damage and nervous system disorders and injuries of the lung and airways. A certain level of concentration and after a certain exposure time, certain air pollutants are extremely dangerous and can cause serious disorders and even death.
Air pollution also causes damage to the environment, having hit the tree flora, fauna and lakes. Pollution has also reduced the thickness of the ozone layer. It also produces the deterioration of buildings, monuments, statues and other structures.
Air pollution is also causing haze, which reduces visibility in national parks and other places and sometimes an obstacle to aviation.
Some practices to help reduce air pollution
There are many ways to help reduce air pollution. You can make a significant contribution to air purification simply by following (or not, as the case) some simple practices
Since vehicles contribute significantly to air pollution by emitting CO2, NOx, ozone, VOCs, HAPs, CFCs and volatile particles, changing driving habits will help reduce it.
Reduce car use, use public transportation or bicycle, walk more, use the automobile as a means of public transport, etc.. are the best way to help reduce air pollution.
If driving, please note the following:
• Avoid high-speed circular
• When buying a car, choose one with high mileage per gallon.
• Do not overfill the gas tank
• Do not load fuel in the days of high ozone. Try to do after dark.
• Use a vehicle model that is as new as possible, as new models are generally less polluting.
• Use an alternative vehicle, such as the electric car, or one that works with other types of fuel.
• Drive smoothly and avoid letting your car remain unused for a long time.
• If your car is pre-1995 model, please change the hazardous air conditioning system R-12 (chlorofluorocarbons) by the R-134-a, which is more secure, thereby contributing to reducing the ozone hole. Read the rest of this entry »
The main cause of global warming
Carbon Monoxide (CO): A colorless, odorless gas. When inhaled, the molecules enter the bloodstream, where they inhibit the distribution of oxygen. Low concentrations cause dizziness, headache and fatigue, while higher concentrations can be fatal.
Carbon monoxide results from incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels such as gasoline, oil and wood, and natural and synthetic products, such as cigarette smoke. It is found in high concentrations in enclosed spaces such as garages and tunnels with poor ventilation, and even in congested traffic roads.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is the main cause of global warming. It originates from the combustion of coal, oil and natural gas. In liquid or solid sunburn, frostbite, and blindness. Inhalation is toxic if found in high concentrations, can cause increased breathing rate, unconsciousness and even death.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are chemicals that are used in large quantities in industry, refrigeration and air conditioning in the development of consumer goods. When released into the atmosphere, rise into the stratosphere. Once there, the CFC chemical reactions that lead to the reduction of the ozone layer that protects Earth’s surface from sunlight. The reduction of emissions of CFCs and the suspension of production of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer are fundamental steps for the preservation of the stratosphere.
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP): These are chemicals that affect health and the environment. The mass emissions, as the disaster that took place in a chemicals factory in Bhopal, India, can cause cancer, birth defects, nervous system disorders and even death. Read the rest of this entry »
Prevention and reduction of air pollution
On December 11, 2011, the Ministry of Environment Protection of Israel, distributed for the first time a national program for prevention and reduction of air pollution. The program covers a wide range of guidelines whose implementation will achieve a continuous reduction and prevention of emissions to the atmosphere.
Israel is about to become the most densely populated western country and the program must be implemented urgently to avoid serious air pollution levels that exist in countries like China.
During the course of the preparation and evaluation of program impacts on health and air pollution, found that air pollution causes hundreds of thousands of additional deaths and hospitalizations occur each year. The cost of this damage to the health of the economy could reach 7.8 million shekels in 2015 and 8.5 million shekels in 2020. The plan includes the management of problems in the areas of transport, energy and industrial production.