The environment in the news friday 17 October 2008
AFP: Greenpeace protests Berlusconi plan to veto EU climate accord
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AFP: Greenpeace protests Berlusconi plan to veto EU climate accordThu Oct 16, 4:13 pm ET ROME (AFP) – Greenpeace activists on Thursday protested at a power station north of Rome against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's intention to veto an EU climate plan, the environmental group said. A dozen activists climbed on a crane at the Civitavecchia power station and fixed two enormous banners that read "the government is against Kyoto," and "coal, no more," it said. Others scrawled "quit coal" across a nearby jetty. "Today's action aims to denounce the Italian government's hostility to the European Union's 'climate and energy package'," the group added in a statement. At an EU summit in Brussels on Wednesday, Berlusconi threatened to torpedo the bloc's climate change plans, saying they were too big a burden for business amid the global financial crisis. "I have announced my intention to exercise my veto," the Italian leader told a press conference on the sidelines of the summit. The EU has aimed to reach a deal by the end of December on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. They have already pledged to have renewable energies make up 20 percent of all energy sources. But many EU nations have begun to baulk at the costs involved and the consequences for industry of the climate change goals. According to Greenpeace, the Civitavecchia power station -- which is still under construction and will run on coal -- will produce more than 10 million tonnes of CO2. The group said this is "the equivalent of two million SUVs each travelling 25,000 kilometres (15,500 miles) per year." Back to Menu ______________________________________________________________________ AP: California releases plan to cut greenhouse gasesBy SAMANTHA YOUNG, Associated Press Writer Samantha Young, Associated Press Writer – Wed Oct 15, 8:39 pm ET SACRAMENTO, Calif. – To reach its global warming goals, California must cut greenhouse gas emissions by about four tons per person, which would require cleaner cars, more renewable energy and a cap on major polluters, according to a state plan released Wednesday. It's the first comprehensive effort of any state to reduce greenhouse gases in the absence of federal regulation. The plan to be voted on by the California Air Resources Board in December builds upon an earlier draft on ways to meet the global warming law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger two years ago. "Despite a difficult economy, it is important that we move forward on our environmental goals, which is why I am pleased that in California we have put together a plan for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions that also boosts our economy," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. The plan will be implemented over the next few years through lengthy regulations that haven't yet been written, so many details remain unknown. An analysis released by the board last month suggested California's economy would grow faster under the proposal than if the state did nothing to cut emissions blamed for global warming. One of the most contentious proposals is a cap-and-trade program to help power plants, oil and gas refiners and other major polluters lower their carbon emissions. The idea is to allow businesses that cannot cut their emissions because of cost or technical hurdles to buy credits from cleaner businesses. Many embrace a trading scheme as cost-effective, but some worry businesses could shirk their responsibilities and continue polluting the air. The latest plan suggests businesses could get some emission credits for free, but polluters eventually would have to buy into the market. Local governments also will be asked to build residential developments near public transportation, shops and businesses in an effort to reduce the number of miles Californians drive. Regulators said decisions would be made later. Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols explained that regulators first wanted to think through the implications of such a plan before addressing the specifics. "We're facing the reality at the moment of a very uncertain business climate," Nichols said. Some businesses have criticized the board's analysis that California's economy would grow under the plan. They also say requiring companies to initially buy their way into a carbon trading market would amount to a tax on struggling businesses. "The last thing California companies need in this challenging economic climate is billions in more taxes," Amisha Patel, a policy advocate at the California Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. "California is already one of the highest tax states in the country." Top of Form Bottom of Form Back to Menu ============================================================= ROA MEDIA UPDATE THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE NEWS 17 October 2008 General Environment News RD Congo: 200 Gorilles Non Suivis Au Parc National Des Virunga En RRD Congo PANA (Kinshasa) : l'Institut congolais pour la conservation de la nature (ICCN) a déclaré, jeudi, ne plus assurer, depuis un mois, le suivi de 200 gorilles des montagnes du secteur Mikeno du Parc National des Virunga (PNV), du fait de l'insécurité consécutive aux affrontements opposant les Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC) aux combattants de Congrès national pour la défense du peuple (CNDP) de Laurent Nkundabatware, dans la station de Rumangabo, en plein parc. Dans un communiqué parvenu à la PANA, l'ICCN indique que certains gardes de Rumangabo ont même été évacués à Goma, chef-lieu de la province du Nord-Kivu, après les récents affrontements et par conséquent, la surveillance du parc n'a plus été assurée normalement. «Nous avons 50 gardes qui sont restés à la station de Rumangabo pour surveiller le parc et faire ce qu'ils peuvent en ce moment trouble. Mais toutes les familles des gardes et quelques gardes ont dû être évacués la semaine dernière vers Goma. Aujourd'hui même (mercredi), nous avons le rapport des accrochages près du poste de patrouille de Bikenge entre le CNDP et les FARDC. Ce poste de patrouille est l'un des 5 postes de patrouille de secteur Mikeno, où habitent les 200 gorilles de montagne du Congo, ce qui est en fait une situation très critique et très inquiétante puisque, tant que les gardes de parc n'ont pas le contrôle de ce secteur, l'ICCN ne peut pas savoir le sort des 200 gorilles de montagne du Congo», a expliqué le porte-parole du Parc National des Virunga, M. Samantha Nuporte. Classé au patrimoine mondial par l'UNESCO, le PNV abrite plus de la moitié des quelque 700 derniers gorilles des montagnes encore en liberté, qui vivent à cheval entre l'est de la RDC, le Rwanda et l'Ouganda. En 2007, 10 gorilles des montagnes ont été tués et deux portés disparus. Des associations de défense de l'environnement avaient accusé des combattants du CNDP, ralliés au chef rebelle Laurent Nkundabatware, d'avoir commis ces massacres, indique l'ICCN. Ghana: Protect Our Forest Products Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra): The Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines, Madam Esther Obeng Dappah, has stressed on the need for Ghanaians to help protect the natural resources of the country, especially forest products, in order to ensure the judicious use such resources, for the benefit of the state. She said her outfit had embarked on a national education, to advice those who depended on the use of forest products such as timber to produce furniture, and other products to use the materials properly. This was contained in a speech, read for her at the closing ceremony of a two-week trainers-of-trainers workshop, for two-hundred master craftsmen from the southern sector of the Volta Region, at Ho, to build their capacity. The sector Minister noted that the training workshop became necessary, in view of the inefficient use of wood products, as well as mismanagement of such products over the years, which she observed, was fast depleting the forests. Madam Obeng Dappah said wood products produced in the country, in most cases, failed to meet international standards, and stressed on the need for workers in the wood industry, to work hard to attract the international market. http://allafrica.com/stories/200810160435.html Nigeria: 'Remote Sensing, Tool for Environmental Management' Daily Trust (Abuja): Remote sensing can be used extensively for natural resources management in Nigeria, for the inventory of the high forests and other environmental activities, an expert has said. In a paper titled 'Application of Remote Sensing Data for Environmental Management in Nigeria, Dr. Olufemi Olaleye, said remote sensing data can also be used to compare vegetation and land -use changes. "In Nigeria between 1975 and 1994/1995, the World Bank Assisted Environmental Management Project used remote sensing data to facilitate the inventory of the high forests and plantations in the country." He said that remote sensing is the use of any device and its attendant display at a distance for gathering information pertinent to the environment, such as measurement of force fields, electromagnetic radiation, or acoustic energy. "The commonest remote sensor is the eye. Others include the camera, multi-spectral scanners (MSS), infra-red scanners and radars; these sensors are the basis of the various remote sensing systems that are now operational in the world, photography at different altitudes, air- borne and satellite- borne MSS, IR scanners and radar." He explained that applications of aerial photography could include vegetation mapping, volume estimation and species identification; while scanners on the other hand are of four types. http://allafrica.com/stories/200810160507.html Nigeria: 'Humans Responsible for Environmental Degradation' Leadership (Abuja): The minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Halima Tayo Alao has observed that Nigeria and indeed the world, have become increasingly vulnerable to environmental change through mainly inappropriate human actions. The minister who made this observation at the opening of the second stakeholders forum organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), at the transcorp Hilton Hotels, Abuja, stressed that human survival and development depends on environmental sustainability. She said it was unacceptable for humans who are the greatest beneficiaries from the resources of the environment to engage in activities capable of degrading it. The minister decried the negative effect which results from the improper exploration and exploitation of Nigeria's rich natural resources on the health of the people, as well as on the environment. http://allafrica.com/stories/200810160744.html Back to Menu ________________________________________________________________ ROAP MEDIA UPDATE THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE NEWS 17 October 2008
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