carbon reduction

Scientific Breakthrough: Researchers accidentally turn carbon dioxide into ethanol

22 October 2016 Leave a Comment

"They basically put a genie back in its bottle. "Science has a long and storied history of looking for one thing but finding something better instead. Penicillin, radioactivity, science boxes...I mean microwave ovens -- all of these discoveries came in the the search for something else. On Monday, researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee announced that they too had unintentionally discovered something incredible: a means of transforming carbon dioxide directly into ethanol … Continue reading

Reykjavík: the geothermal city that aims to go carbon neutral

7 October 2016 Leave a Comment

"Reykjavík used to be marketed as a place of “pure energy”, run on geothermal power – and now Iceland’s capital is trying to become the world’s first carbon neutral city. "Last month, Iceland became one of the first countries to ratify the Paris climate deal with a unilateral parliamentary vote, shortly after Reykjavik announced its aim to be carbon neutral by 2040. "It wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from 2.8 tonnes per person in 2013 to zero – largely by changing the shape of … Continue reading

Tshering Tobgay: This country isn’t just carbon neutral – it’s carbon negative | TED Talks

31 March 2016 Leave a Comment

"Deep in the Himalayas, on the border between China and India, lies the Kingdom of Bhutan, which has pledged to remain carbon neutral for all time. In this illuminating talk, Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay shares his country's mission to put happiness before economic growth and set a world standard for environmental preservation." Watch video

Bhutan most ‘carbon negative’ country in the world

5 December 2015 Leave a Comment

"At this week’s Paris Climate Change Conference an underrated and unlikely champion of combating climate change was the little Himalayan nation of Bhutan." Read the full story.... Continue reading

Sønderborg: the little-known Danish town with a zero carbon master plan

23 October 2015 Leave a Comment

"Denmark joins more than a hundred places around the world making business-friendly zero carbon commitments as they transition away from fossil fuels.... "Almost completely surrounded by water, the little-known Danish town of Sønderborg is no stranger to flooding from both seawater rising along its coastline and heavy rainfall. With climate change ensuring more of both, Sønderborg is learning to tackle the immediate problems of adapting to a warming world while becoming part of the broader … Continue reading

Portrait Project Looks at the Carbon Footprints of People Living in the UK

16 October 2015 Leave a Comment

Thank you to our own Roger Doudna, who is also featured in the portrait project, for sharing this post. Roger is a long term resident of the Findhorn Community, an ecovillage in the north of Scotland. He lives in a self-built house made from a whiskey barrel. "We all know about climate change in a sweeping and abstract way; we understand that sea levels are rising, that coastlines are in danger, that animal populations are dwindling, and that we can no longer tame weather patterns and natural … Continue reading

Circular economy could bring 70 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2030

29 April 2015 Leave a Comment

"Odds are, your mobile phone is less than two years old. Today’s economy is built on a “fast turnover” principle. The faster we replace our gadgets the better – not only our phones, but most items we consume. "This leads to a staggering inefficiency in the way we manage the Earth’s resources, with increased pollution, loss of ecosystems and substantial losses of value with each product disposed. A new study club of rome circular economy from The Club of Rome, a global thinktank, highlights that … Continue reading

Envisioning a future with less doom and gloom: opportunities for the next generation of optimists

19 March 2015 Leave a Comment

"When it comes to stories about the fate of the earth, headlines are usually dominated by tales of gloom and doom. And there’s certainly a great deal to be depressed about: global temperatures hit their highest levels ever last year, oceans are growing so warm and acidic that fisheries could be lost, and food and water systems are in decline. "Experts say that the developed countries need to reduce carbon by 3% per year. Future 500 President Bill Shireman believes that’s a big opportunity for … Continue reading