Showing posts with label curb emissions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label curb emissions. Show all posts

Video: Volkswagen's Dark Side

Video: Volkswagen's Dark Side
Volkswagen has made the strategic decision to produce and market vehicles that are more price competitive than they are fuel efficient.

All the major automotive brands are making radical fuel efficiency improvements to help reign in carbon. It is obvious to all but the willfully misinformed that climate change is a serious threat to all life on the planet, and anthropogenic carbon is the leading cause.


Carbon reduction on the scale required demands a new approach to the way we do business. Companies that oppose the transition to a low carbon economy are compromising their own long term competitiveness as well as undermining the environment.

Although Volkswagen does have some greener vehicles, they are also behind some of the dirtiest brands in the automotive sector.

Irresponsible companies will increasingly be punished in the marketplace. Greenpeace should be lauded for expediting what will eventually come from market forces. One day in the not too distant future a combination of regulation and public pressure will make all businesses more sustainable.

Volkswagen is resisting the inevitable and putting itself at a competitive disadvantage compared to automotive giants like Hyundai.

This Greenpeace video parody of VW's advertising compares the automaker to the Death Star for its opposition to cuts on CO2 emissions. The video encourages viewers to "Join the Rebellion" where visitors can sign a "Rebel Manifesto" to be sent to VW execs, it will then allow them access to part two of the film.

As reviewed in this video, corporations like Volkswagen that oppose cutting emissions are clearly drawing their power from the dark side of the force.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Sustainable Transportation

Sustainable transportation seeks to improve access to goods while simultaneously reducing environmental and social impacts. Research indicates that transporatation is a major cause of climate change.

According to reseach by A. Schafer titled, "The global demand for motorized mobility," transport systems generate approximately one quarter of world energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

Air pollution is an unavoidable byproduct of the traditional fossil fuel powered transportation industry. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, greenhouse gas emissions from transport are increasing at a faster rate than any other energy using sector. Road transport is also a major contributor to local air pollution and smog.

Green transportation is defined by its low environmental impact. A truly sustainable transportation system makes a positive contribution to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the communities they serve.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Xcel Energy's Planned Emissions Reductions

While some utilities are resistant to the EPA's new clean air rules, others, like Xcel Energy are more supportive and they are already working on reducing emissions.

"From our perspective it's almost a moot point," said Mark Stutz, a spokesman for Xcel Energy. "We support it because we've come up with a plan of action."

In 2010, Colorado passed legislation called the Clean Energy-Clean Jobs Act. Xcel was part of a diverse group that helped to create the measure initiated by former Gov. Bill Ritter. The law calls for Colorado utilities to reduce their emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury and carbon dioxide.

Xcel is expected to close a coal-fired unit at a Boulder plant and three at a plant in Denver. They plan to replace these plants with power from new cleaner natural gas-powered plants. The utility will also install modern emissions controls to cut emissions.

These measures will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by about 85 percent and sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions by about 80 percent. These significant emissions reductions come at a very modest cost to consumers. Xcel has indicated that these changes will result in rate increase of roughly 2 percent annually over the next decade.

Xcel will reduce its carbon emissions by 28 percent below a 2005 baseline, which is the goal stipulated in the Clean Energy-Clean Jobs Act.© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The Montreal Protocol Celebrates 23rd Birthday

September 16, 2010, marks the 23rd anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, the international treaty that was created in 1987 to protect and restore the ozone layer. The treaty has achieved each of its goals over the last few decades, including the complete phase-out of CFCs this year.

Aggressively phasing out CFCs translated not only to major ozone protection, but also to significant climate protection: 222 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2-eq.) in mitigation or the elimination of 7 to 12 years worth of emissions.

In 2007 Montreal Protocol parties agreed to accelerate HCFCs, the chemicals that replaced CFCs. This agreement will avoid up to 15 billion tonnes of CO2-eq. by 2040.

HFCs pose a risk as a major GHG, they are widely used as coolants used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, but new ozone and climate-friendly alternatives exist.

According to the Executive Summary of the 2010 Ozone Assessment by the Montreal Protocol’s Scientific Assessment Panel, the growth of HFCs is growing at an alarming pace and if they are not controlled, their climate impact could equal that of CFCs at their peak.

Serious regulation is required to stem the use of HFCs, if left unchecked this could essentially wipe out progress achieved so far under the Kyoto Protocol. The Federated States of Micronesia, and other island Parties, have been joined by Mexico, the US, and Canada in calling for a ban on HFC.

HFCs could be phased down under the Montreal Protocol which could eliminate up to 100 billion tonnes of CO2-eq emissions by 2050.

With the support of 196 parties, a strong financial mechanism and 23 years of experience and expertise, the Montreal Protocol proves that global agreements on climate change can work. Most importantly the Montreal Protocol has proven its ability to achieve major mitigation in a fast and cost-effective manner,

The Montreal Protocol is a functioning example of a global climate treaty that is a model for the elimination of HFCs and other GHGs.
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GM Breakthrough Reduces Emissions

A technological breakthrough from General Motors (GM) could significantly reduce climate change causing emissions. In July, GM announced what is known as an HFO, a climate-friendly refrigerant to replace HFCs, the super greenhouse gas currently used in auto air conditioning. GM is the first company in the world to announce the replacement of HFCs with HFOs.

This refrigerant was produced for GM by Honeywell and is the culmination of more than a decade of cooperation among private industry, government, and standard-setting organizations. Use of the new refrigerant will start in the US in 2013, with the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands.

Eliminating super greenhouse gases is essential to climate protection. In the US, HFC super greenhouse gases are the fastest growing climate emissions. HFCs in the US are expected to grow more than 140% by 2020 compared to 4% growth for all US climate emissions.

Dr. Stephen O. Andersen, Co-Chair of the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty’s Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) said, “TEAP estimates that one-third of the most damaging high-GWP greenhouse gases known as HFCs are being used in motor vehicle air conditioning and that motivated industry can make a complete transition to environmentally-superior technology in 7 years or less.”

The newly developed HFO refrigerants have a global warming potential of just 4 compared to over 1,400 for the current HFC refrigerant (HFC-134a). According to Honeywell, GM’s new breakthrough technology remains in the atmosphere for just 11 days. Honeywell calculates that the low global warming potential (GWP) and the short lifetime of its HFO achieve a 99.7 percent improvement in the climate impact over the HFC refrigerant.

Regulations in Europe and California will phase out auto air conditioning refrigerants with GWPs higher than 150 between 2011 and 2017. In the US, the improved environmental performance of the new refrigerant helps car makers achieve the 40 percent improvement in average vehicle fuel economy required by 2016. There is also a pending petition before the EPA to remove HFC-134a from the list of acceptable motor vehicle air conditioning refrigerants.

A proposal to phase down HFCs in the US is part of the proposed climate bill or it could be integrated into oil spill legislation which is at the top of the Senate's to-do list once the summer recess is over. The proposal is one of the few provisions with bipartisan support.

Proposals also are pending under the Montreal Protocol to completely phase out the use of all high-GWP HFCs. The proposals will be addressed at the treaty’s annual meeting in November. Last year, 41 Parties endorsed a declaration by two small island States to elimate HFCs. This year a number of countries including the United States, Canada and Mexico called for the elimination of high-GWP HFCs.

Phasing out high-GWP HFCs under the Montreal Protocol will provide climate mitigation of 5 to 8 billion tons of CO2-equivalent per year, for a cumulative total of 88 to 145 billion tons of CO2-equivalent by 2050.

Durwood Zaelke, President of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD) said, “This is the single biggest climate opportunity anywhere in the world this year. An aggressive campaign to promote the use of the new HFO at an affordable price would add momentum to the effort to phase out HFCs under the Montreal Protocol. This would virtually eliminate one of the six greenhouse gases in the Kyoto Protocol basket.”

“GM should be congratulated for leading the way with an innovative refrigerant that can drastically cut the use of super greenhouse gases in the auto air conditioning sector...GM’s announcement sends a powerful signal to other car companies that it’s time to abandon unsustainable super greenhouse gases and move to next generation climate-friendly technology that also delivers high energy efficiency and reliable service,” Zaelke said.

Despite its decades long fall from grace and a near death experience, GM's technological breakthrough represents a major step forward in the war against climate change.
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Private Public Cooperation Behind SA Joule

The Joule electric city car is manufactured by Optimal Energy with help from the government of South Africa (SA). The Joule is the first vehicle to be developed and manufactured by a wholly owned SA company. The major powers in the global economy are developing greener vehicles, but so are small companies from less affluent nations. The Joule is getting ready to meet the growing demand. It is widely believed that by 2020, 10% of world automotive production will be in electric vehicles.

The project is being funded partly by the Industrial Development Corporation, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology. The Joule is benefiting from the SA government's second industrial policy action plan, which seeks to increase local automotive content and manufacturing.

Commercial production of the Joule should begin in 2013, reaching 50000 units a year by 2015. The company will employ more than 2000 people in its assembly operation, while supplier and support activities could create a further 8000 downstream jobs.
Kobus Meiring, CEO of Optimal Energy said, "We want to make it clear that we are not aiming at the green market as such, but rather the C-segment, in competition with cars like the Toyota Corolla," he says.

SA Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said in this year's budget speech the government hoped "to influence the composition of SA's vehicle fleet to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly".

These efforts will help SA meet her Copenhagen Accord commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025.

Although the car is expected to establish a local market, the company says 90% will be exported. If more green vehicles are to be sold in SA, there needs to be better support infrastructure and better market education.

Above all, "it must be a combined drive between government and industry," says Mike Whitfield, CEO of Nissan SA.

The fact that the SA motorists will not pay more for a greener car means that the Joule must not only have zero emissions it must also be inexpensive.
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Jaguar XJ: A Greener Luxury Car

Jaguar, a segment of Tata Motors, has been honored with a prestigious Green Award in the luxury car segment. The Jaguar XJ earned the award due to its fuel efficient, low emission power plant and recycled aluminum body.

The XJ is equipped with a 275PS 3.0-litre AJ-V6D Gen III turbodiesel engine that gets 40 mpg. That is the same fuel efficiency as a gas powered Smart subcompact car. Although the car can go from 0-60mph in an impressive 6.0 secs, it has CO2 emissions of only 184g/km and NOx emissions of 0.142g/km.

Geoff Cousins, managing director of Jaguar UK said, "Environmental considerations are increasingly important to car buyers. By taking a lifecycle approach to the new XJ we have minimised the amount of materials used, we use recycled material and low-energy manufacturing processes, as well as making the vehicle easy to recycle at the end of its life."

Jaguar's aluminium body carries about 50 percent recycled material and the company plans to increase that figure to 75 percent. This feature will save three tons of CO2 per vehicle.

For its niche, the XJ is a greener car, but the emphasis is on luxury, performance and impressive styling.
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