England: Government launches €7,2 million Fund for planting 4 million trees

Over the next two years should be planted four million trees across England, according to the Government's confirmation of that country to continue to fund the creation of new forests.

The trees will be planted through a Government Fund of €7,2 million ($ 23.2 million), which will create 2,000 hectares of new forests and woodlands. The Fund is part of a total investment of €36,2 million (US $ 117 million) for the creation of new forests and management and preservation of existing ones.

However, plans to plant 2,000 hectares of new forests fall short the objectives of the Government itself, which wanted to plant about five thousand new acres, according to the Woodland Trust.

According to the Minister of forests, Dan Rogerson, quoted by the Guardian, the forests are "a cherished natural resource" and "provide a valuable habitat for wildlife and natural areas for future generations to enjoy".

"Planting 4 million trees over the next year will help us to increase the forest area, which will benefit the wild life, improve the environment and help the economy to grow. The new forests constitute economic, social and environmental benefits, allowing the forest industry to create new jobs and increase their contribution to the nation's economic recovery, "said the Minister.

Foto:  alexindigo / Creative Commons

Read More

Portugal hit record for renewable energy in 2013

Portugal has reached a record level last year, with regard to the production of electricity from renewable energy sources. About 58.3% of the total electricity consumed in 2013 was produced from renewable sources, which represents an increase of 20% compared to 2012.

If it is only considered domestic production, the renewables contribution increases to 61.7%. In the Face of this increased production of renewable energy in the past year it was possible to reduce the share of imported electricity at about 2.8 times, according to Quercus, which translates into a decrease of 10% of the total electricity consumed.

The difference between the values in the last two years is explained by the weather conditions. According to Quercus, 2012 was a very dry year, 58% below average. In contrast, 2013 was a wet year, 17% above the average. Thus, the production of renewable energy from water resources, using the dams more than doubled in the last year.

Also the percentage of energy produced from wind farms increased by 2013, almost 20%. With regard to photovoltaics, the increase of the installed capacity in the country allowed an increase of 25% compared with the same period of the previous year. However, the electricity generated from solar energy still accounts for 1% of the total electricity consumed, "which shows a huge potential for growth," said Quercus in a press release in conjunction with the Portuguese renewable energy Association (Apren).

"2013 was a year in which demonstrated the advantage of Portugal have bet on its natural resources to produce electricity because, besides having prevented imports of fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases, the fact that 60% of the electricity consumed from renewable origin be allowed to stabilize the price of this well, which is also important to help Portugal out of the crisis"says the Chairman of the Board of Learning, António Sá da Costa.

Bet on renewable save €846 million allowed

According to the two associations to produce electricity of renewable origin enabled save almost 850 million (R $ 2,731 .4 billion) in 2013: €806 million on imports of fossil fuels (natural gas and coal) and € 40 million in allowances for carbon dioxide. In total, the savings amounted to €846 million.

"The emissions associated with electricity production + totaled 13 million tonnes of CO2 in 2013, about 20% of the total emissions of greenhouse gases present in Portugal", indicate the Quercus and Learning. However, between 2012 and 2013 there has been a reduction in CO2 emissions of around 2.3 million tonnes, the statement. This value, a million tons due to reduced use of coal power plants.

To the Group's coordinator of energy and climate change of Quercus is necessary to "continue to invest in renewable energies and in energy efficiency allowing the recovery of the economy without burdening the environment." "For this we need an investment in awareness and proper planning of the energy sector also towards a desirable climate policy demanding".

Foto:   Glances of mine / Creative Commons

Read More

Hamburg wants to become a city without cars within 20 years

The city of Hamburg, Germany, is working on a plan that could eliminate the movement of cars in the city centre within the next 15 to 20 years, becoming a city greener, healthy and pleasant to live and walk. The "Grünes Netz", or Green Network, provides for the creation of pedestrian routes and cycle paths which will connect to the existing car.

These new routes will connect the main parks, playgrounds, gardens and cemeteries of Hamburg. The resulting network will cover about 40% of the second largest city in Germany and should allow the passers-by, cyclists and tourists largely circular of the city on foot or by bike.

However, the objectives of the Green Network are much more comprehensive. The city recognizes the need for changes in the face of global warming: in the last 60 years the average temperature of the city increased nine degrees Celsius and the water level of the sea has risen 20 centimetres â€" and is expected to increase another 30 cm until 2100. The circulation of fewer cars will lead to lower carbon dioxide emissions and the green spaces that will be expanded, along with the Green paths, will alleviate the danger of floods associated with strong rainfall and storms.

Additionally, such a network will contribute to the health of the city and its inhabitants. The Green Network will still offer opportunities for climbing, swimming, water sports and nature observation, referred to Inhabitat.

The Green Network of Hamburg is part of a growing trend in Europe to make the greenest and sustainable cities, through the creation of more green areas and pedestrian routes and cycle paths, which not only cross the cities as the link with the suburbs. The most ambitious project in this area will be maybe Copenhagen, with the creation of 26 super highways for bikes, which is integrated in the aim of becoming a carbon neutral city until 2050. Recently, Brussels also revealed plans to eliminate the circulation of cars the main routes from the city centre.

Foto: Wikimedia Commons

Read More

Hungary: town flooded by toxic sludge becomes a model green city

The 4 October 2010, the Hungarian town of Devecser woke up flooded by a red toxic sludge leaked from a central reservoir of aluminum oxide, which exploded (pictured). The flood of mud killed 10 people and severely feriou other 150. However, three years after the accident, the city was rebuilt and is now a model green city.

Thanks to the Mayor's vision, Toldi Tamás, Devecser is now a locale that uses local and renewable sources of energy and farming their own food. The new sustainable development plan was designed by Hungarian architect Imre Makovecz, free of charge, and includes a park in the area most affected by the toxic sludge.

In the immediate vicinity of the park there is a 30-acre Mall that provides wood to warm the 87 dwellings that were built eight months after the disaster. Every summer, a team of loggers cut the poplar trees and plant new trees. Geothermal energy is also part of the energy plan of Devecser and provides power to a very busy bus terminal, reports the Guardian.

In addition to renewable energy sources, agriculture is not neglected by municipal authorities. "I want to bring back healthy farming techniques with low emission levels of carbon dioxide that we had before. Secondly, we must ensure that all our public institutions use local production. Are healthier than the stuff you buy in Tesco, "says Tamás. This city of Hungary, in the region of Veszprém, intends to install later this year a dehydration of vegetables fed solar energy, in order to promote demand for local products.

Foto:  Adam Bognar / Creative Commons

Read More

Madrid: transportation tickets are already sponsored

All cities and countries have a big problem when it comes to mobility: how to ensure the financial viability of a sector, by nature, a deficit, but that, after all, is the service not only of the people who use it but of the entire economy, environment and society?

In Madrid, the new form found by raising more revenue is in marketing. Second minus one Car, the Consorcio Regional de Transportes (CRTM), entity that manages public transportation in local autonomous community, has established a partnership with the El Corte Inglés to convert the passes in an attractive way to promote a product or disseminate a campaign.

Thus, since January 1 the contactless electronic tickets of public transport of the Spanish capital incorporating the logo of El Corte Inglés and a QR Code that refers to the company's online shopping site.

According to the sustainable mobility aggregator, about 50 thousand new passes will incorporate the logo of El Corte Inglés, which becomes the new sponsor of the Madrid public transport.

The idea is a way to generate new revenue for the regional body of mobility â€" the Consortium also hopes to draw the attention of other advertisers and open "a new path of possibilities" for the Madrid public transport network.

In parallel, the CRTM presented this year a new source of revenue, which consists of personalization of social passes â€" with images â€" which has a cost of € 3 ($ 9.6). So far, about 1,000 users have customized their tickets.

Agree on a similar initiative for your city?

Read More

USA: two Tigers kept as pets in suburban backyards

Those responsible for the wildlife agency of Arizona captured and recovered two tigers who were being kept as pets in backyards of the Phoenix area.

According to the Associated Press, the Arizona Game and Fish Department received several calls from citizens after a man have placed, in social networks, photos alongside his two pet Tigers.

According to Randy Babb, Wildlife Department, the first Tiger was found hanging by a rope, in a common yard, on new year's Eve. The second was located three days later, in a dog kennel for a suburban townhouse.

According to the Huffington Post, the two Tigers are brothers, have eight months and weigh 90 pounds. Both are in good health and were taken to a wildlife reserve in Prescott.

Read More

Rio de Janeiro: heat activated sprinkler system of the Mall

We arrived in 2014 and the previous year's scenario repeats itself: half the planet desperate with the cold and record minimum temperatures, storms and rain; the other half with hot flashes that, year after year, are beating, also they, maximum levels earlier.

The Brazil is one of the countries where the summer is becoming more extreme. This year, the high temperatures that have registered in the country already provided a situation ludicrous, to say the least: the sprinkler system of a shopping mall in Rio de Janeiro called automatically due to heat.

According to the Brazilian press, the system sprays were well received by the customers of the Mall-they sought shelter from the Sun in the Shopping Leblon, precisely â€" but it is an alert for extreme weather conditions.

According to the commercial centre, would be about 40 degrees C in the Shopping Leblon when the sprinkler system if auto-accionou. "The lower basket activated automatically due to the temperature that you feel in the city," explained the Mall on Twitter.

In recent days, the temperature in Rio de Janeiro came to 50ºc.

Read More