China's current growth path could exceed energy resources of the planet by 2050September 16th, 2009 China growth path could exceed planet's resourcesBEIJING — If China's economy continues to expand rapidly and rely heavily on coal and other fossil fuels until the middle of the century, its power consumption would be unsustainable, according to a study by government think tanks released Wednesday. The two-year study, supported by the U.S.-based Energy Foundation and the international environmental group WWF, also said if China's energy usage structure remains unchanged, its emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming would reach 17 billion tons a year by 2050.
Scientists boost production of biofuel that could replace gasolineAugust 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Engineers at Ohio State University, US, have found a way to double the production of the biofuel butanol, which might someday replace gasoline in automobiles. The process improves on the conventional method for brewing butanol in a bacterial fermentation tank.
China's carbon emissions may peak around 2030August 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A panel of experts have determined that China's carbon emissions output could peak around 2030 if the government continues to be serious about "strengthened measures" to improve energy efficiency and if it accelerates exploration of renewable energy. According to the panel from the National Development and Reform Commission and the Development Research Center of the State Council, with the right policies, emissions growth could slow after 2020, with a peak around 2030.
Now, an AC that can cool with less than half the energy needed by
conventional cooling unitsAugust 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Tests have shown that a new air-conditioner developed by a company in the US can cool a typical big-box store with less than half the energy needed by conventional cooling units. The five-ton commercial rooftop unit, developed by Coolerado Corp.
Trees can serve as a vital "famine food" to keep drought-hit communities aliveAugust 5th, 2009 LONDON - Environmental campaigners say that trees can serve as a vital "famine food" to keep drought-hit communities alive when all other food crops fail. According to a report by BBC News, Miranda Spitteler, chief executive of Tree Aid, said that food insecurity is a routine fact of life for many of the world's poorest people.
Dwindling oil supplies may herald catastrophic energy crunchAugust 3rd, 2009 LONDON - A leading energy economist has warned that the world is heading for a catastrophic energy crunch that could cripple a global economic recovery because most of the major oil fields in the world have passed their peak production. Higher oil prices brought on by a rapid increase in demand and a stagnation, or even decline, in supply could blow any recovery off course, Dr Fatih Birol, the chief economist at the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, told The Independent.
Shrimp catalyst may churn out cheaper, greener biofuelJuly 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A catalyst made out of shrimp shells may churn out faster, cheaper and greener biodiesel, according to a new study. Xinsheng Zheng and colleagues, who led the study in China, described the development of a new catalyst produced from shrimp shells.
Now, 'shrimp cocktail' to power cars and trucksJuly 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Shrimp is no longer just a sophisticated appetiser, it has re-invented itself to become a component of bio-fuel. Yes, you heard it right.
New technologies essential to make conversion of biomass to biofuels more cost-effectiveJuly 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has determined that new technologies are essential to make the conversion of biomass to biofuels more cost-effective. The study was conducted by Dr.
Global IT spending to dip 6 percent in 2009: GartnerJuly 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The global spending on IT is expected to dip six percent to $3.2 trillion in 2009 from $3.4 trillion in the previous year, a report released here Tuesday said. According to the forecast made by Gartner Inc, a leading global IT research and advisory company, the economic situation combined with the effect of exchange rate movements has resulted in continued weak IT spending.
BP says world's proved oil reserves fell in 2008, first drop in a decadeJune 10th, 2009 BP says world's proved oil reserves fell in 2008LONDON — The world's proved oil reserves fell in 2008, the first drop in a decade, oil company BP PLC said Wednesday. Proved reserves of 1.258 trillion barrels in 2008 was 3 billion barrels less than in 2007, the company said.
Potsdam symposium urges action on climate changeJune 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Participants at the Nobel Laureate Symposium Series on Global Sustainability in Potsdam have called for a 'Great Transformation' aimed at bringing about technical, economic, political and cultural changes to meet the double challenge of environmental destabilization and persistent underdevelopment. According to a report in ENN (Environmental News Network), this Symposium series brings together Nobel Laureates of various disciplines, top-level representatives from politics and Non Government Organizations, and experts on sustainability.
Global warming as big a threat as arms race, say scientistsMay 29th, 2009 EDINBURGH - Scientists have warned that climate change poses as great a threat as the nuclear arms race, and have called on world leaders to take action to tackle the problem. According to a report in The Scotsman, the statement was made by scientists and Nobel laureates attending a three-day conference hosted by St James's Palace that drew up a memorandum calling for global greenhouse gas emissions to peak by 2015.
'Green' bus that runs on chip fat hits the road in UK!May 7th, 2009 LONDON - A single-decker bus, dubbed "The Chipper", that runs on waste cooking oil from chip shops has taken to the UK streets. The "green" vehicle, a 1998 Dennis Dart vehicle converted for the scheme, is beginning a six-month trial in Bristol to see whether its performance can match that of conventional coaches, reports Sky News.
Shell posts record profitsJanuary 29th, 2009 LONDON - Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch Shell Thursday reported 2008 profits of $31.4 billion, despite a sharp fall in earnings in the last quarter due to tumbling oil and gas prices and the global economic downturn. Shell, the first major oil company to report results for last year, said profits for the final three months of 2008 fell to $4.8 billion, down 28 percent from the same period a year ago, and 56 percent lower than in the previous quarter.
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