Andy Wimbush is nef‘s Communications Assistant and blogmaster.
A few picks from the web.
The Guardian has just put up a fantastic Carbon Atlas, which represents countries by the size of their emissions. It’s a very effective way of making the stats accessible – and astounding. Compare the United States with one our favourite little countries here at nef, the kingdom of Bhutan.
The Green New Deal is gathering endorsements so quickly that my regular round-ups can barely keep up. The lastest one comes from the International Energy Association. It’s worth bearing in mind that the IEA have been notoriously sceptical of peak oil. Getting their backing on this cause is therefore especially significant. The IEA’s Energy Director, Nobuo Tanaka, said:
The current volatility in global energy markets and the broader economic slowdown must not push us off-track from our efforts to address climate change. We must put in place the framework that will guide investment during the recovery and we must start the green infrastructure that will enable the sustainable economy going forward. We think there is an enormous opportunity to develop a ‘Clean Energy New Deal’ to achieve energy security, economic and environmental goals.
The Independent has a fascinating article about an ancient fertilization technique used by pre-Columbian Amazonian tribes which might help us sequester carbon dioxide. The idea is to grow thousands of trees, turn them into something called biochar and then bury it in the ground. The carbon dioxide take in by the trees will then be safely stored for thousands of years, improving soil quality in the meantime. And if you think that sounds like a dubious geoengineering or off-setting fix, consider that Professor James Hansen – godfather of climate science – is supporting the idea as a means of getting us back to the safety zone of 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Finally, a video from timetolead.eu. Watch and then sign the petition.
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16 December, 2008 at 11:12 am
Jeremy
Nice to see some publicity for Bhutan there – theirs is an experiment we can all learn from.
16 December, 2008 at 11:31 am
Andy Wimbush
Absolutely! You may be interested to know that Nic Marks, the founder of nef‘s centre for well-being, has worked closely with Bhutanese ministers in developing Gross National Happiness, their alternative to GDP.
However, even Bhutan has a shadow side. The government has taken some radical decisions in the name of preserving Bhutanese Buddhist culture. And while this has admirably slowed the progress of coporate globalisation in Bhutan, it has also led to the oppression and exclusion of Bhutan’s non-Buddhist Lhotsampa minority. Hundreds of thousands of Lhotshampa have been forced out of the country into Nepal. So even in a country which prizes happiness over profits, there is still much work to do.
(Aside: I find it interesting that there is actually a Buddhist teaching on the importance of treating immigrants and minorities with kindness. Perhaps Bhutan could learn from this!)
17 December, 2008 at 11:19 am
Jeremy
Yes, it goes to show that no system can be put on a pedestal, and I suppose making cultural protection a key policy is doomed to exclude someone somewhere. Disappointing that it divides down religious lines though, as Buddhists ought to know better.
Still, what looked pretty eccentric a few years ago looks increasingly prescient, and here’s hoping Bhutan are ahead of the times rather than a one-off.
10 February, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Green New Seoul « the nef triple crunch blog
[…] endorsements of the Green New Deal – from the UN, from the Environment Agency and from the IEA – but aside from some lofty promises from Barack Obama, there has been little in the way of […]