Water Management is Big Business: Carrots and Sticks

A wide range of companies are responding to the growing demand for responsible water stewardship.  This includes products like software, printing, and decontamination. There are also powerful disincentives that encourage responsible water manage water management.

The number of companies that see the importance of responsible water stewardship has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. This is due to both opportunities and threats. Those who engage responsible water stewardship stand to benefit from cost savings while those who do not get on board are vulnerable to a wide range of risks. These risks include penalties for failure to comply with their legal responsibilities.

Responsible corporate water efforts run the gamut from sustainable water programs to innovations that diminish water use. Here are some examples of products designed to better manage water and a couple of examples of what can happen when companies fail to do so.

There are a number of software programs that enable companies to collate data so that they may better understand and address their water management issues. The Water Risks Monitizer is a great example of software that helps companies to manage water resources. Another water management software from Aquatic Informatics goes by the title of Aquarius WebPortal 2015.1. This software offers real-time online access to quality assured environmental data and services, including rich statistics, intuitive maps, email alerts, data exporting and live reports.

Companies are also acting to be better water stewards. Kodak has introduced something called Sonora Process Free Plates, which eliminates the need for water in the pringing process. This innovation also eliminates the chemicals and energy traditionally required by processed plates. It does this without sacrificing quality or productivity. To meet the burgeoning demand for this product (66 percent year over year) Kodak opened a new manufacturing line at their Columbus, Georgia facility on August 7, 2015. The Sonora Process Free Plates eliminates the need for processing equipment and this can save the average printer that uses 20,000 square meters of plates almost $100,000 annually. There are now more than 2,700 printers using Sonora Process Free Plates for a variety of applications.

Innovative water treatment processes are also on the rise.  One such process employs an advanced oxidation process (AOP) using TiO2 catalyst and UV light. The process treats water to remove organic and chemical contaminants. known as Keratox, this water decontamination process was developed by atg UV Technology. This process can significantly lower costs and risks when compared to traditional approaches that use ozone and hydrogen peroxide.

There have been numerous examples of companies who pay a penalty for failing to safely address water risks. Earlier this year Arch Coal, one of the largest coal companies in the US, and 14 of its subsidiaries where forced to pay a $2 million civil penalty and conduct comprehensive upgrades to their operations to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act. The settlement was attributable to the illegal discharge of pollutants.

Pan Am Railways has also been forced to pay penalties for violating the Clean Water Act. The company has agreed to pay a fine of $152,000 to resolve the violations. These fines were levied due to the company's inadequate storm water management. This includes storm water running through debris piles and oil stains. The company also agreed to undertake an Environmental Culture Assessment (ECA) and develop and implement action plans to improve the current environmental culture.

Whether to reap financial benefits or to avoid penalties the business of water management is is a large and growing concern.

Related
A Condensed History of Responsible Water Stewardship
Performance Contracting Offers Water and Energy Savings
Expanded Water Tool Reveals the Actual and Future Water Risks
Free Sustainable Water Management Software for Universities
Responsible Corporate Water Leadership: Beer and Jeans
The 2014 World Water Development Report (fifth edition): Water and Energy
Recycling or Reclaiming Water: A Sustainable Solution for Industry
Water Stewardship Steps: Developing a Water Strategy
Solutions to Diminishing Ground Water
Reducing Water Use in the United States
110 Water Conservation Tips for Businesses and Homes
Water Efficiency: Stopping the Flow from Leaky Pipes
The Carbon Trust's Water Standard
WBCSD Report: Building the Business case for Water Valuation

Read More»

Event - Green California Schools & Community Colleges Summit and Exposition

The 9th annual Green California Schools & Community Colleges Summit and Exposition will be held October 29 - 31, 2015, at the Pasadena Convention Center 300 East Green Street in Pasadena California. The Green Market Oracle is once again proud to be an outreach partner for this important event.

This is the first and largest green schools event in California it offers insights into achieving the full range of benefits associated with a high performance green school. Among the benefits are cost savings that can free up funds for core needs and improved student performance. Districts that have made a strong commitment to sustainability have also earned respect and gratitude from the communities they serve.

Through an Expo featuring green products and services, concurrent education sessions, keynote presentations and an annual Leadership Awards program, the Summit offers a unique opportunity to discover what's new, what is working and what is on the horizon.

There is broad consensus that the actions we take in next decade will play a crucial role in the long-term prospects for a healthy, livable planet.

Schools are uniquely poised to open the door to a greener future. They will likely be the first place most students encounter determined efforts to conserve energy and water or to reduce waste. They can help students understand the relationships between human needs and activities and the ecosystems on which all life forms depend.

California has long been on the leading edge of the green schools movement; it was here that the nation’s first green building rating program for K-12 schools was created. Through the Education and the Environment Initiative, the state created the country's first K-12 environmental literacy curriculum.

The Summit provides a unique opportunity for leaders from the nation's largest public education system to discover new ways to create healthy, efficient learning environments.

A media favorite who has been called "the prophet of California climate," Bill Patzert is known as one of the West's most influential individuals in regard to water issues. He is regularly seen on local and national television representing NASA and JPL.

To see the list of exhibitors click here.
To see the event agenda click here.
To register click here.

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Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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International Conference on Sustainable Development

The 3rd Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development on September 23-24, 2015, at Columbia University in NYC. This year’s conference theme is “Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Getting Started.” The aim of the conference is to identify and share practical, evidence-based solutions that can support SDGs, which will be adopted at the historic UN Summit immediately following the conference. World leaders, students, and professionals from around the world will come together for this conference.


Confirmed speakers include WBCSD President Peter Bakker, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, Asian Development Bank Vice-President Stephen Groff, Director of Earth Institute’s Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions program and Former Director of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies James Hansen, Journalist Femi Oke, Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, Stockholm Resilience Centre Executive Director Johan Rockström, Executive Director of Human Resources, Health and Safety, Sustainability and Energy at Vale Vania Somavilla, and SDSN Director Jeffrey Sachs.

The event is hosted by The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Global Association of Master’s in Development Practice (MDP). 

For more information or to register click here.

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Middlebury Institute’s IEP Program: Focused on Today’s Sustainability Issues (Video)

Middlebury Institute’s International Environmental Policy degree program is designed to attract students who want to play a part in setting international agendas for worldwide sustainability issues and initiatives.



To learn more click here.
_________________________________________

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

Read More»

Expanded Water Tool Reveals the Actual and Future Risks and Costs (Videos)

An expanded version of a tool has just been released that provides actionable information to help businesses manage their water risks. It obvious to everyone, including businesses that water is a finite resource that is in growing demand. It is becoming increasingly evident that water is a strategic asset. Now more than ever businesses want a better understanding of their exposure to water risks. In addition to risk mitigation water is increasingly being understood as a cost saving opportunity. Businesses are also concerned about water scarcity as a constraint to growth. While having the information to craft the right water policy can be instrumental to success, water is currently undervalued and the real price remains elusive.

To ascertain the real value water Ecolab and Trucosthave developed a free tool known as the Water Risk Monetizer. This location specific tool was first introduced in November 2014 and it provides financial valuations of water at any given plant.



This is the first tool to quantify water risks and facilitate informed decision making with actionable information. In this video CEOs Doug Baker (Ecolab) and Richard Mattison (Trucost) discuss why they invented the monitizer and what it does.



Since the initial release last year a new expanded version has become available that accounts for potential profit reductions associated with water scarcity. For more detailed information on how to use the tool watch the full tutorial below.



To access the tool click here.

Related
Free Sustainable Water Management Software for Universities
Water Risk Tool: The Convergence of Business and Conservation
New Tool Helps Companies with Water Risks
GE is Helping Nestle to Save Millions of Gallons of Water
Siemens Water Tool on Facebook
Sustainable Water Purification Technology
New Water Quality Runoff Tool from the USDA

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A Brief History of Responsible Water Stewardship at Nestlé

Responsible water management is a critical issue for Nestlé and their stakeholders. In recent years the company has made great strides in water efficiency and stewardship. This is important with more than a third (38 percent) of their factories situated in water-stressed regions.

While Nestlé now claims that it welcomes the growing level of stakeholder interest in water issues this was not always the case. Nestlé now aims "to minimise the impact of our operations on natural water resources and the communities they support." However, these objectives were not always core concerns for the company.

In 2011 social media campaigns helped to encourage Nestlé to adopt more sustainable businesses practices including water stewardship. One year later with the help of GE Nestlé managed to save millions of gallons of water.

Nestlé has been involved with water based efforts in India for almost a decade now. They support initiatives to provide clean drinking water and they are also working on building awareness about water conservation and sustainability. Nestlé has partnered with a number of institutions with expertise in the field of water research and outreach across the country including the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and the Embassy of Switzerland in India. Together they formed the Science Express, an innovative mobile exhibition mounted on a specially designed train, traveling across India since October 2007.

They also funded a study in partnership with the International Water Management Institute titled, “Measuring the water footprints of milk production: contributions to livelihood benefits and sustainable water use in the Moga District in Punjab" It explored the main factors for groundwater depletion in the Moga district by studying the water footprint for agriculture, and recommends interventions for sustainable irrigation and agriculture. These recommendations are being promoted by Nestlé among the dairy farmers in the region.

Nestlé is one of the first signatories of the pledge drawn up by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) that commits businesses to upholding the human right to water and sanitation within their operations. The pledge for ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Implementation at the Workplace’ (WASH) challenges companies to provide access to safe water and sanitation, and appropriate facilities to ensure personal hygiene, to employees in all premises in their direct control, within three years of signing.

In 2013 Nestlé launched its water stewardship program that includes efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle water in their operations. The right to water and sanitation is now systematically included in Nestlé's corporate Human Rights Impact Assessment.  Nestlé conducts water resource reviews to help them assess potential impacts to the Right to Water and Sanitation of local communities. Where they deem necessary they take corrective action. As of the end of 2014, 133 factories had undergone a Water Resources Review.

In 2014 Nestlé introduced a global ‘Water Stewardship Master Plan’ at a corporate level, and they started to develop local master plans in key markets which includes documented responsibilities, targets and deadlines.

There are currently more than 376 water-saving projects in Nestlé’s factories which will save around 1.84 million m3 of water. In 2014,  they reduced direct water withdrawals per tonne of product by 6 percent and 37 percent since 2005.

By the end of 2014, they have decreased water withdrawals and improved efficiency (compared to 2013 levels) in 42 percent of these facilities. They improve local water stewardship efforts by conducting Water Resource Reviews across our factory sites, with 18 new reviews carried out this year. WASH considerations are being integrated into the process.

The company has publicly announced the following responsible water stewardship goals for this year and next:

2015

– Reduce direct water withdrawals per tonne of product in every product category to achieve an overall reduction of 40% since 2005.
– Establish and implement detailed guidelines on human rights to water and sanitation due diligence.

2016

– Define water stewardship initiatives and start implementation in five high-priority locations.
– Implement water savings projects in 100% of high-priority manufacturing facilities.
– Carry out 45 new water resources reviews in selected manufacturing facilities, and all greenfield sites.

In addition to their purely water focused initiatives Nestlé now participates in efforts to help others engage sustainability and the company is also among those who were early supporters of the EPA's Clean Power Plan. While there are still reasons why environmental critics challenge Nestlé, no one can deny that they have come a long way in a relatively short span of time.

Related
Water Management is Big Business: Carrots and Sticks
Performance Contracting Offers Water and Energy Savings
Responsible Corporate Water Leadership: Beer and Jeans
The 2014 World Water Development Report (fifth edition): Water and Energy
Recycling or Reclaiming Water: A Sustainable Solution for Industry
World Water Day 2014 Advocacy Guide
Water Stewardship Steps: Developing a Water Strategy
Solutions to Diminishing Ground Water
Reducing Water Use in the United States
110 Water Conservation Tips for Businesses and Homes
Water Efficiency: Stopping the Flow from Leaky Pipes
The Carbon Trust's Water Standard
WBCSD Report: Building the Business case for Water Valuation

Read More»

Obama Ignores Jindal and Talks About Climate Change 10 Years after Katrina

President Obama was in New Orleans on Thursday to mark the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, but he did not heed Gov. Bobby Jindal's warnings to avoid the topic of climate change. Since the devastation that occurred on August 29th 2005, the city has undergone massive reconstruction, however, the threat of climate change induced extreme weather persists. Katrina was the costliest and most damaging storm in recorded history. The category 5 hurricane caused between $108 and $250 billion in damages and killed as many as 2000 people. In the city of New Orleans alone, the hurricane costs the city $6.6 billion and killed over 150 people.

New Orleans, the Gulf of Mexico and vast swaths of our planet are at increased risk from extreme weather exacerbated by climate change. The science indicates that extreme weather is already here and destined to get far worse.

Climate models predict that hurricanes are strengthened by warmer temperatures. So it is only a matter of time before New Orleans gets hit again. As Joe Romm points out the only reason it has not happened yet is because the city has gotten lucky.

Before the President went to Louisiana Jindal sent a letter to Obama urging him not to bring up the subject of climate change during his trip to the state. As a Republican Presidential candidate climate denial is de rigueur.

As Jindal explains in his letter, "the temptation to stray into climate change politics should be resisted...While you and others may be of the opinion that we can legislate away hurricanes with higher taxes, business regulations and EPA power grabs, that is not a view shared by many Louisianians. I would ask you to respect this important time of remembrance by not inserting the divisive political agenda of liberal environmental activism.” The governor goes on to lecture the President telling him that, “Partisan politics from Washington, D.C. are unwelcome in Louisiana at the best of times. This week it would be met with nothing but derision.”

Unsurprisingly, Obama who is currently on a climate tour around the country did not take Jindal's advice. Unlike Jindal and the field of Republicans vying for the GOP nomination, the President is an advocate for renewable energy and other global efforts to combat climate change. During his speech in New Orleans, Obama talked about building resilience against climate change.

"We are going to see more extreme weather events as a result of climate change — deeper droughts, deadlier wildfires, stronger storms," Obama said.

It would appear that the city of New Orleans shares Obama's concerns. New Orleans along with 100 other cities recently released urban climate resilience plans.While such adaptation to climate change is necessary we must not forget about all important mitigation efforts.

As explained by President Obama, “We can build great levees. We can restore wetlands. But ultimately, what we also have to do is make sure that we don’t continue to see ocean levels rise, oceans getting warmer, storms getting stronger.”

The only way to do that is to dramatically slash the GHG emissions that cause climate change.

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Sustainable Systems Management Degree from the University of Minnesota

A new program has been created that is designed to prepare students for the vast number of green jobs that are now available. To reflect the increasing importance of sustainability, the University of Minnesota has recently changed the curriculum and renamed the Bioproducts Marketing and Management degree program. The degree is now named Sustainable Systems Management.

Environmental protection is now an integral part of good business practices. Few issues are of more importance to the global economy than our allocation and use of resources. We must be ever more judicious in our use of these finite resources. This is forcing us to carefully assess how we use energy, land, water, and other raw materials.

Students need knowledge and skills that enable them to integrate the goals of economic growth and development in global markets alongside protecting public health and the environment. Sustainability is key as is analytical problem solving.

This program is informed by an understanding of the systems thinking which is defined as the “habits, tools and concepts to develop an understanding of the interdependent structures of dynamic systems.” The program provides a comprehensive approach to advancing solutions for processes and products, commercial and industrial businesses, buildings, and energy systems that promote sustainability. The program is premised upon the understanding that decision makers need good information and this demands transparency.

For more information about Sustainable Systems Management degree contact Tracy Fallon at 612.624.9603 or tfallon@umn.edu
_________________________________________

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

Read More»

Sustainable Communities: Public Works (Infographic)

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Performance Contracting Offers Water and Energy Savings for Schools and Governments

A new report suggests that western public school schools and government facilities can reduce energy and water usage and save vast sums of money by using performance contracting. The western states covered in the report are Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.

Performance Based Contracting is a results-oriented contracting method that grantees a particular outcome. This approach focuses on the outputs, quality, or outcomes that are tied to a contractor's payment. If the contractor fails to meet the contracted objectives the contractor must make up the difference.

According to a study released at the end of July by Western Resource Advocates and McKinstry, there are almost $1 billion worth of savings to be had.

The research specifically said that using performance contracting a total of $859 million can be saved through water management and energy conservation measures.

The report, titled Tapping the Power of the Market: Financial, Energy and Water Savings, and New Revenue Streams through Performance Contracting in the Colorado River Basin States, indicates that together schools and governments in the west could save more than 6 million megawatts of electricity, 4 million cubic feet of natural gas, and 40,000 acre feet of water every year.

The study concludes that the performance contracting model, is well suited to energy and water contracts given out by cities, counties, school districts, and wastewater/water utilities .

This approach is particularly important in the Colorado River Basin which has been plagued by the combination of decreasing water supply and increasing demand. Persistent droughts and growing populations are straining resources to the limit.

Performance contracting can both reduce apparent water loss through customer meter inaccuracies by 461,000 acre-feet per year. It can also provide $593 million in additional revenue per year.

Related
Water Management is Big Business: Carrots and Sticks
A Condensed History of Responsible Water Stewardship
Responsible Corporate Water Leadership: Beer and Jeans
The 2014 World Water Development Report (fifth edition): Water and Energy
Recycling or Reclaiming Water: A Sustainable Solution for Industry
World Water Day 2014 Advocacy Guide
Water Stewardship Steps: Developing a Water Strategy
Solutions to Diminishing Ground Water
Reducing Water Use in the United States
110 Water Conservation Tips for Businesses and Homes
Water Efficiency: Stopping the Flow from Leaky Pipes
The Carbon Trust's Water Standard
WBCSD Report: Building the Business case for Water Valuation

Read More»

President Obama's New Renewable Energy Initiatives

At the start of a national climate and energy tour President Obama has outlined plans to further his efforts to move the US away from fossil fuels and towards renewables. These plans include support for distributed energy and home based efficiency. The first stop of his tour brought him to Nevada, which has emerged as a hotbed of cleantech activity.

On Monday August 24th President Barack Obama and Senate Minority Leader, Nevada's Harry Reid attended the eighth annual National Clean Energy Summit. The conference took place in Las Vegas, a city that is surrounded by solar plants. The President delivered an address at the Mandalay Bay convention center which is part of a complex that includes a 20 acre solar array on its roof.

This is a fitting setting for the President's new renewable energy initiatives. The state has the largest geothermal potential in the US and it is already a leader in solar although Nevada's potential far exceeds current installations. Solar jobs in the state increased by 146 percent in 2014 giving Nevada the highest number of per capita solar jobs in the US. Nevada is also home to a number of clean energy industries like Tesla Motors $5 billion battery Gigafactory.

Reid, introduced Obama as, "the leader who finally put us on the path to stop climate change." As part of his speech the President offered support for rooftop solar on American homes. "The real revolution going on here is that people are beginning to realize that they can take more control over their own energy," Obama said.

In the context of ongoing Republican obstructionism that makes passing legislation impossible, the President has indicated that his plan is focused on a combination of executive orders, as well as partnerships with states and the private sector.

The President derided the climate ignorance of republicans like Inhofe and those in the fossil fuel industry who actively oppose renewable energy. Obama singled out the Koch brothers, oil billionaires who claim to be advocates of a free market, until that market embraces clean energy. He pointed to Republicans who oppose renewables, as the bedrock of a misguided political philosophy.

The President's plan will expand access to a loan program that will allow homeowners to get up front financing for clean energy and efficiency upgrades. The new initiative also includes an additional $1 billion in federal loan guarantees from the Energy Department for things like rooftop solar and battery technologies.

The President also addressed EPA’s recently finalized Clean Power Plan, one the administrations landmark achievements. The EPA conservatively expects the Clean Power Plan will enable states to get more than a quarter of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

The President will visit New Orleans tomorrow August 27th for the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, where he is expected to talk about preparedness in the face of extreme weather related to climate change. Before the end of the month he will also travel to the Arctic, the epicenter of climate change. He will likely address melting Alaskan glacial ice and the erosion of Arctic shoreline.

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Water is a Key to Sustainable Development

The theme of World Water Week 2015, (August 23-28) is "Water for Development." This year's theme is crucially important issue as water is central to development issues around the world. There can be no sustainable development, nor can we hope to eradicate poverty in the absence of a keen focus on water.

The issue of water is prescient as the Sustainable Development Goals are due to be formally adopted in September.  As explained in a Reuters article, the World Bank says that water management is key to achieving these goals.

Each day almost 1000 children under 5 die from diarrhea caused by contaminated water. One third of all people on earth, or 2.4 billion people do not have access to sanitation.

This already serious problem is destined to get worse as the world's population is expected to top 9 billion people by 2050. This is especially true in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia where urban centers are growing rapidly. We are expected to face a 40 percent shortfall in water supplies in 15 years due in part to urbanization.

We need to fundamentally rethink how water is managed said Junaid Ahmad, director at the World Bank's water global practice. "We're headed into a perfect storm in which over the next 20 years we will see the demand for water growing significantly, driven by thirsty agriculture, thirsty energy and thirsty cities," Ahmad said at the World Water Conference in Stockholm.

Water is not only a problem in the developing world or for the world's poor, it is a global problem that touches all of us. In 2015 alone the ongoing drought in California cost the state's economy $2.7 billion and nearly 21,000 jobs. Water issues in the developing world are even more serious and problematic.

Food scarcity is directly tied to water scarcity. Water scarcity like climate change is a major cause of stress and conflict. Water is also a weapon of war. It is not an exaggeration to say that the fate of the world hinges on how we manage water, particularly in the developing world.

Related
Water for Development: World Water Week 2015
Alarming Facts About Water
Disturbing Water Statistics from the Food Tank
Worldwatch Institute: The Looming Threat of Water Scarcity
Population Growth and Climate Change will Add to the World Water Crisis
Infographic - Water Consumption in the US and in Developing World
Infographic - Sanitation and Water
Video - Water's role in Post-2015 Development Agenda (UN-Water Chair Michel Jarraud)
Video - World Water Development Report
How Much Water is there on Earth
Video - Water in the Anthropocene

Read More»

Free Sustainable Water Management Software for Universities

Water and wastewater modeling software is now available for free to students and professors at universities around the world. The GIS-centric water and wastewater modeling software is a special student edition of both InfoWater and InfoSWMM. The software address every facet water management and protection. Essentially it contains everything that is need to plan, design, operate, secure and sustain water distribution. This includes predictive analytics, systems dynamics, optimization functionality. Some of the specific features are dynamic water quality simulations, valve criticality and energy cost analysis.

The software suite is designed to provide educational opportunities for students in institutes of higher learning. Interested universities can use this advanced, high performance water modeling software in their classrooms and labs.

Working with this software will provide practical skills that are valued in the workforce. The software will give students an opportunity to design, plan, operate and manage sustainable water distribution and wastewater/stormwater collection systems.

The offer comes from Innovyze, a company that develops business analytics software and technologies for smart water infrastructure. The InfoWater and InfoSWMM software is widely used by utilities and engineering firms around the world.

For more information click here.
_________________________________________

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

Related
Expanded Water Tool Reveals the Actual and Future Water Risks
Free Sustainable Water Management Software for Universities
Water Risk Tool: The Convergence of Business and Conservation
New Tool Helps Companies with Water Risks
GE is Helping Nestle to Save Millions of Gallons of Water
Siemens Water Tool on Facebook
Sustainable Water Purification Technology
New Water Quality Runoff Tool from the USDA

Read More»

Water Purication for Developing Countries (Infographic)

Related
Water Stewardship Steps: Developing a Water Strategy
Sustainable Water Purification Technology
Six Innovations for Better Water Management
Solutions to Diminishing Ground Water
The World’s Aquifers are Being Tapped Unsustainably

Siemens Water Tool on Facebook
Banana Peels and Water Purification
Sustainable Water Purification Technology

Read More»

Event - Colorado Green Schools Initiative September Meeting

This meeting will take place on September 16, 2015, from 7:30 AM MDT to 9:00 AM MDT at The Alliance Center, 1536 Wynkoop St, Denver, Colorado CO 80202. This is one of several meetings planned, these meetings are free for all to attend.

Agenda

Green Apple Day of Service: Green Apple is a global movement to put all children in schools where they have clean and healthy air to breathe, where energy and resources are conserved, and where they can be inspired to dream of a brighter future. The Green Apple Day of Service, which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, gives parents, teachers, students, companies and local organizations the opportunity to transform all schools into healthy, safe and productive learning environments through local service projects. Be sure to check out project ideas, pick up helpful event resources, read about last year's impact, find an event in your area and register your 2015 event today!

Green Ribbon Schools Webcast Update: The national “Green Ribbon Schools” recognition and award program was developed by a strong collaboration of organizations and individuals that share a common concern

Other issues to be discussed at the meeting Green Ties Update and Electing Incoming Chair
_________________________________________

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

Read More»

Event - Water for Development: World Water Week 2015

The United Nations' World Water Week, takes place on August 23-28, 2015 in Stockholm, Sweden. The theme for this years Word Water Week event is "Water for Development." This annual event is designed to bring awareness to the globe’s water issues. While the event is taking place in Sweden, people around the world are supporting the event. Poverty eradication is intimately connected to water.

The United Nations University (UNU) carries out research and training on numerous water-related issues. Using the latest evidence-based research, our institutes feed into policy planning worldwide. They provide economic, political and social recommendations to help ensure human development, survival and welfare worldwide.

The guiding theme of World Water Week 2015, is of crucial importance to UNU. The use of water for development is a key plank in two projects at UNU-MERIT: one focusing on India, the other on Kenya. The ‘FINISH’ and ‘FINISH-INK’ projects aim to improve not only sanitation but also regional economies: helping local engineers and entrepreneurs design, build and service modern toilets. Working with partners such as NGOs, government agencies and international organisations, including UNICEF, the scope is massive: a toilet is built by FINISH India every 3-4 minutes. The ultimate goal is to build half a million by 2016.

As of 2015, UNU has a total of 60 water projects, based out of institutes like UNU-INWEH in Canada, UNU-INRA in Ghana, and UNU-IAS in Japan, among several others. Of these 60 projects, 24 broadly focus on Asia, 16 on Africa, and eight on the Americas.

Yet water is just one piece of the puzzle for both development and the environment. Hence the ‘Nexus Approach’ designed by UNU-FLORES in Germany, which aims to encourage a more sustainable management of water, soil and waste, while working with partners like UNEP and UNESCO. The approach is based on the understanding that environmental resources are inextricably linked and therefore need to be governed in an integrated way.

Click here to see UNU’s latest policy brief on water-related issues from UNU-FLORES. The document is titled, "The Need for Water as Energy Storage for Better Integration of Renewables"

On Sunday August 23 at 2 PM there will be a session on ‘water storage and hydropower as drivers for sustainable development’. Click here for more details about the event.

Related
World Water Week 2014
The 2014 World Water Development Report (fifth edition): Water and Energy
World Water Week 2013: Water Cooperation - Building Partnerships
World Water Day 2013: International Year of Water Cooperation

Read More»

Chemical Plant Explosion in Shandong China (Video)

On August 22 another chemical plant exploded in China. This follows the explosion at a Chinese chemical plant in Tianjin on August 14. The two blasts were a bit more than a week apart and they occurred just a few hundred miles from each other. The August 22 explosion took place in Zibo city in Shandong province. It is known to have killed 1 person and injured 9. These two explosions raise some serious questions about the unlawful proximity of these chemical plants to residential areas. Here are two videos of the chemical plant explosion in Zibo city.

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Underwater Pipeline Breaks and Catches Fire in Moscow (Video)

A pipeline belonging to Gazprom Neft burst and caught fire in the Moscow River on Wednesday August 12. Local news agencies reported that one child and two adults suffered burns from the incident. This amateur footage from the Guardian shows a large oil fire on the surface of the Moscow river.

Read More»

The Water Crisis and Development: World Water Week 2015 (Video)

The scarcity of clean water in certain places around the world is one of the most daunting challenges in the world today. Each day almost 1000 children under 5 die from diarrhoea caused by contaminated water. More than 2.4 billion people – a third of all humanity – have no access to sanitation. And as populations grow, water is set to become a new source of danger, of conflict, given the rapid urban expansion of Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, as climate change accelerates, we are likely to see more extreme and frequent droughts, floods and typhoons. Again, people in emerging economies are likely to be the hardest hit by water-borne disasters.

To help national governments and the global community prepare and respond to these challenges, the United Nations University carries out research and training on numerous water-related issues. Using the latest evidence-based research, our institutes feed into policy planning worldwide. Essentially, we provide economic, political and social recommendations to help ensure human development, survival and welfare worldwide.



Related
Summary of World Water Week: Events, Ideas and Stories
Water for Development: World Water Week 2015
Water is a Key to Sustainable Development
Climate Change Increases Risks of Water Borne Diseases Contracted by Swimming
Beaches are Facing Environmental and Climate Threats
World Water Week 2014
The 2014 World Water Development Report (fifth edition): Water and Energy
World Water Week 2013: Water Cooperation - Building Partnerships
World Water Day 2013: International Year of Water Cooperation

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Educational Tool Assesses Scientific Veracity of Online Content

An educational tool has been developed that can assess the veracity of climate related online content. The resource helps to separate fact from fiction in the complex world of climate science to the general public. This tool is an ideal companion for those engaged in climate education. The resource was developed by Dr. Emmanuel Vincent, a tropical cyclone expert at the University of California.

There is a plethora of information on climate science available online, however, it is often difficult to determine the accuracy of the claims being made. The Climate Feedback tool known as the Hypothesis annotation platform relies on a community of scientists who provide commentaries on the scientific accuracy of online content. So far there are 40 scientists who are providing these commentaries.

The resource has provided scientific feedback on a number of climate related articles in well known publications (eg Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and The Hill). These critiques even include the Pope's recent environmental encyclical.

The scientists that conducted these critiques hail from prestigious institutions like MIT, the University of New South Wales Climate Change Research Centre, Germany’s Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Harvard, the US National Snow and Ice Data Center, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The tool assesses both the science of anthropogenic warming and claims made by skeptics. No doubt skeptics will abuse this tool with the intent of undermining the credibility of climate journalism. Nonetheless, it is a great resource to assess the veracity of the statements made by climate journalists.

Click here to access the tool.
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Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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US Proposals to Cut Methane and Other Pollutants

As an extension of his Climate Action Plan President Obama through the EPA has announced a series of proposals that will reduce methane and other harmful emissions. While there are there are already some voluntary programs to reduce methane emissions, the EPA has proposed new regulations that will significantly reduce methane in the oil and gas sector as well as in landfills.

In June of this year the EPA announced that it was preparing plans to limit methane. On August 18, 2015, the EPA publishes more details of the new rules. The standards are intended for the oil and gas sector. They are designed to reduce methane, VOCs and other toxic air pollutants. Under the proposed regulations the oil and gas industry would have to cut methane emission by 40 to 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025.

The new standards would reduce methane emissions by between 340,000 and 400,000 short tons. This is equivalent to reducing 7.7 to 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. According to EPA estimates the net climate benefits will be worth between $120 and $150 million. In addition to methane the new rule will eliminate as much as 180,000 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

To achieve these goals the new EPA rules require the oil and gas industry to find and repair leaks, capture gas leaking from fracking wells, as well as limit emissions from pumps and other equipment. Several studies have shown that due to leakages, natural gas has a higher emissions profile than coal.

The new standards also address airborne toxins, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. Under the plan as much as 2,500 tons of these toxic emissions will be eliminated.

On August 14, 2015 the EPA issued two other proposals that are intended to reduce methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills which are the third largest source of anthropogenic methane. As part of the proposals landfills would have to reduce methane emissions by almost one third. 

Landfills generate around 18 percent of methane emissions which is the equivalent to 100 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution.

The proposed rules are expected to reduce methane emissions by an estimated 487,000 tons a year which is equivalent to reducing 12.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

The EPA estimates the climate benefits of the combined proposals at nearly $750 million in 2025 or nearly $14 for every dollar spent to comply. Combined costs of the proposed rules are estimated at $55 million in 2025.

Related
EPA Announces Plans to Regulate Methane
Video - Methane is a Potent Greenhouse Gas
Video - Methane is the Ticking Time Bomb Beneath the Ice
Radiative Forcing: Carbon Dioxide and Methane
Natural Gas (Methane) is Not Clean Energy
A Primer on Greenhouse Gases
Video - Massive Costs Associated with Arctic Methane
Video - Unlocking Methane in the Permafrost is a Global Warming Time Bomb
The Dramatic Implications of Melting Arctic Sea Ice
Melting Arctic Ice is Releasing Massive Amounts of Methane
Video - Arctic Warming: Risks for Methane Emissions

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Colorado Parents Support Green Initiatives in Schools

Parents in Colorado support green values and want to support environmental initiatives in their children's schools. This was the finding in a 2014 survey by the Colorado Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

In addition to support for a range of green school initiatives the results of this study indicate that there is also strong support for the teaching of sustainability.

key findings from the survey

• 87 percent said that it is important to them that sustainability be a part of their child’s curriculum.
• 65 percent said they were aware of an initiative going on at their child’s school.
• 94 percent said they would support a green initiative to make their child’s school more energy efficient.
• 97 percent said they would support a green initiative to monitor the indoor air quality in their child’s school building.
• 97 percent said they would support a green initiative to promote locally or organically grown fruits and vegetables into school lunches.
• 100 percent of parents surveyed indicated that they "do something to be green at home." 

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Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Global Temperature Data Underscores the Urgency of Climate Action

A large and growing body of evidence reveals that the Earth is getting warmer. Month after month, year after year, we are seeing above average global temperatures. Heat waves are smashing records all around the world. July 2015 was no exception even by the standards of a warming world. July is traditionally the hottest month of the calendar year, but all the hottest months of July have occurred in recent years and in 2015 the midsummer month went down in history as the hottest month ever recorded. However, if we want to come to an understanding of how temperature readings provide support for global warming we need to look at the longer term. When examined in a wider context, the heat records that were set in July are part of an ominous warming trend.

We set a heat record in June last year, but June 2015 was even hotter. A similar record was set in the month of May. In fact, according to NASA, to date, every month this year has ranked among the top four warmest. Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) data indicate that 5 of 7 months in 2015 were the warmest on record. The only exceptions are February and April, which were the third warmest on record. If we explore the monthly global average temperature records from the JMA over an even longer time frame recent we see strong support for the warming trend.

Similar observations can be found in yearly global average temperature data with 2014 being the hottest year ever recorded. With the first seven months of this year being the warmest on record, 2015 is on track to eclipse 2014. If we include 2015, the ten warmest years ever recorded have all occurred since 2002. If we expand to even larger time frames, the trend is unmistakable. We have experienced 360 straight months or 30 consecutive years of above average temperatures.

Together more than a century of data corroborates the observation that our planet is warming. This is not just isolated weather, this is strong evidence for a changing climate.

The climate is changing and our weather is heating up an accelerated pace. As explained by Joe Romm in an August 14, 2015 Think Progress article, "We appear to be in the midst of the long-awaited jump in global temperatures."

Even as the summer of 2015 was getting underway we were already setting heat records in large swaths of the Western world. There were also deadly heat waves in India, Pakistan and elsewhere. Heat is deadly, thousands have died this year and as many as 70,000 Europeans died in the heat wave of 2003.

Deaths associated with heat waves are hardly the only problem, warmer temperatures have a range of adverse effects including food insecurity. Hot global temperatures also cause extreme weather events ranging from droughts to floods. Heat contributes to sea level rise and storm surges that cause flooding in coastal areas. Warmer temperatures are causing the Arctic to lose 13 million square kilometers of sea ice every decade and 450 billion tons of Antarctic and Greenland land ice every year.

The heat helped to fuel the forest fires that marked the start of the summer in North America and a number of fires continue to burn on the continent.

Rising temperatures also have a range of impacts that may not be intuitively obvious. The complex feedback loop between wildfires and climate change like the feedback loop between El Niño and global warming are prime examples. El Niño plays a role in both weather events and climate change. The hot weather we experienced in July can be largely attributed to the El Niño effect and research reveals that warmer temperatures increase the frequency of El Niño events which in turn increase global warming.

The long term temperature data alongside a wide range of scientific evidence clearly indicates that global warming is a current day reality. The research also suggests that it is getting worse. We know the cause and we know what we must do to stop it. The earth is warming because we are putting 40 billion tons of CO2 into the air every year. To minimize rising heat levels we must minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

Global temperatures are clearly trending hotter over time which begs the question, how much heat is required to spur global action?

Source: Global Warming is Real

Related
Hottest June Foreshadows the Hottest Year on Record
Extreme Heat in the Western World Marks the Start of Summer 2015
At Least 30 Years of Above Average Temperatures
Heat Records Tell the Story of Climate Change
2014 is the Hottest Year in Recorded History
How Much Heat is Required to Spur Global Action?
Record Breaking Heat Suggests Accelerated Warming
Interactive Map - Summer Heat in the US
June's Record Breaking Heat and the Global Warming Trend
Freak Weather: Alaska is Warmer than Alabama
James Hansen's 2012 Research Linking Global Warming and Extreme Weather
In the US 2012 is The Hottest Most Extreme Year in Recorded History
Globally 2012 is One of the Hottest Years on Record

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Certificate in Clean Energy from NYU

New York University (NYU) has an energy efficiency and renewable energy certificate program for experienced business professionals. The Clean Start program provides a comprehensive background for those who want to start a company or switch careers. The classes are part time and take place in the evenings and weekends allowing professionals to work while they attend school. Study involves hands on learning and mentor-ship.

Classes start on January 4, 2016 and run until July 2, 2016. During these 7 months there are a total of 120 hours of classroom time.

In addition to a capstone project there are the 5 classes:

1.Clean Energy And The World: A Comparative Perspective
2. The Energy System: Cleantech As A Game Changer
3. Entrepreneurship
4. Urban Infrastructure Systems Management
5. Analytics For Energy Professionals

The minimum requirement for participation in the program is an undergraduate degree from an accredited university. Interested applicants must also have between 5 and 10 years of working experience. Those interested in applying for the spring and summer 2016 semester must apply before October 4, 2015.

Scholarships are available for those who can demonstrate financial need.

This program was developed by NYU School of Professional Studies Center for Global Affairs (CGA) and the New York City Accelerator for a Clean and Resilient Economy (NYC ACRE), the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering clean-energy incubator seeded by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

For more information click here.

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El Niño and Global Warming are Locked in a Feedback Loop

Planetary warming is caused by El Niño and warming in turn increases the likelihood of an extreme El Niño event. Current warming can be largely attributed to El Niño and this effect will increase as the climate warms. Research reveals that rising concentrations of anthropogenic greenhouse gases are increasing El Niño effects and accelerating planetary warming.

The record breaking heat we experienced in July 2015 is being attributed to a building El Niño event. In August the ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific were already 3 degrees Celsius above the long term average temperatures.

Although El Niño is already pronounced it is strongest between December and February. NOAA and many others project that the current El Niño will keep growing stronger and become one of the biggest on record. This means that the warming effect of El Niño will peak in the winter and last into the spring of 2016. What some are describing as the strongest El Niño in a half century will likely make 2015 the warmest year in recorded history.

Every five years or so a shift in the wind causes warmer sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. Cooler ocean surface temperatures equatorial Pacific are called La Niña while the warmer El Niño Southern Oscillation is abbreviated as ENSO. These ocean temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific have a ripple effect on global weather patterns.

Historically we know that strong El Niño effects drive up temperatures. One of the hottest months of July and hottest years on record occurred in 1998 (the fourth warmest year on record). This is also a year that had an extremely strong El Niño. Similarly we saw a strong El Niño effect in 2010 which was the second warmest year on record.

El Niño events have a wide range of adverse climate impacts from drought to floods. They tend to increase the incidence of droughts in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Africa and Northeast Brazil. While the same El Niño events tend to produce flooding in southern California, the southern US, East equatorial Africa, western South America, and southeastern South America. They also increase the number of Pacific typhoons while reducing the number of Atlantic hurricanes.

El Niño events are associated with significant damage to infrastructure. In California alone an El Niño event in the late 90s cost $500 million.

Research reveals that El Niño and climate change influence one another. El Niño warms the world, but studies reveal that a warmer world also increases the likelihood of El Niño events. Heat is absorbed by the oceans so it should come as no surprise that there is a link between climate change and El Niño events.

We can expect rising temperatures to almost double the frequency of extreme El Niño events. A 2014 study published in Nature, titled, Increasing frequency of extreme El Niño events due to greenhouse warming, outlined the relationship between El Niño events and climate change.

The finding in the 2014 study was corroborated by a recent review of the scientific evidence on ENSO and climate change. The more recent study is titled "ENSO and greenhouse warming," and it concluded that El Niño events are expected to occur more frequently as the climate warms.

This means that failure to curtail greenhouse gas emissions will cause the earth to continue warming resulting in a doubling of extreme El Niño events. As explained by the studies author's, "ENSO-related catastrophic weather events are thus likely to occur more frequently with unabated greenhouse-gas emissions." More El Niño events will also increase the likelihood of more extreme La Niña events which cause dry winters in places like California and much of the western US.

"Each kind of extreme event will occur more often," lead researcher Wenju Cai, said in a Skype interview. "A huge La Niña would tend to cause big droughts in the southwest US, but El Niño will give you floods."

Researchers based their projections on "business as usual" with regard to climate change causing greenhouse gas emissions. However, if world governments take strong action on climate change, Cai suggests that extreme El Niños could be limited to about 30 percent.

Related
Global Temperature Data Underscores the Urgency of Climate Action
Hottest June Foreshadows the Hottest Year on Record
Extreme Heat in the Western World Marks the Start of Summer 2015
At Least 30 Years of Above Average Temperatures
Heat Records Tell the Story of Climate Change
2014 is the Hottest Year in Recorded History
How Much Heat is Required to Spur Global Action?
Record Breaking Heat Suggests Accelerated Warming
Interactive Map - Summer Heat in the US
June's Record Breaking Heat and the Global Warming Trend
In the US 2012 is the Hottest Most Extreme Year in Recorded History
Globally 2012 is One of the Hottest Years on Record

Read More»