Can Britain Lead the World in Energy Production?

Following on from our last couple of posts about how committed the government is to green issues. (How green is the coalition government? and vision of green government is wilting.) In this article we are going to look at the landmark opportunity for this government to lead the world in revamped energy production that reduces carbon dioxide emissions to 390 million tonnes in 2027, from the current 550, and possibly even to 200 by 2050.

The Committee on Climate Change will present a budget to the cabinet this week containing proposals that could be made law by June. The proposals will include increased investment in the current technologies of nuclear power which, by 2027, will generate 40% of the countries power whilst it is currently around 20%. By 2027 carbon emitting methods should only be responsible for around 20% of the country's electricity with the proviso that the emitted carbon dioxide using the 'carbon capture and storage' system (CCS); a technology still being developed. The remaining 40% should be comprised of renewable energy sources, many of which are being developed, to become more efficient and realistic options for electricity generation.  

The CCS system is based on the idea that emitted carbon dioxide can be stored underground in now empty airtight caverns that once housed reserves of oil and gas. This is still an unproven technology but if successful it would be a viable way to store a limited amount of greenhouse gas.

The renewable energy sources that could be legitimate options for the UK utilise the country's island geography. Tidal and wave electricity generation are seen as potentially two huge sources of power with the large volume of water available to us that is prime for exploitation given its hugely strong tides. Through the country's exploitation of North Sea oil much marine engineering expertise has been built up so developing the technology is certainly realistic. Similarly, wind power through on-shore and off-shore wind farms will be used as a renewable source building on the current ones off the shores of Essex and Kent.

Photo by Dirk Ingo Franke.

Vision of Green Government is Wilting

Following up on our blog post from a couple of weeks ago exploring how green the coalition government is we have a new one as to whether the pledge by David Cameron to be the "greenest ever."

Jonathon Porritt, a former government advisor, audited 75 policies in a study funded by Friends of the Earth and found only 6 could be considered as being highly successful. Such successes have included scrapping airport expansions in the south-east, including ditching Heathrow's new runway, incorporating smart meters into 30 million homes and the world's first Renewable Heat Incentive.

Porritt mentioned a number of pro-environment policies that had been scrapped like a planned rise in aviation tax and the failure so far of the green investment bank to get of the ground. During the last general election campaign George Osborne pledged "if I become chancellor, the Treasury will become a green ally, not a foe." However, in practice we have seen the Treasury keep a tight grip on its purse strings when it comes to funding green policies. What we find is a combination of under funded schemes, a shackled Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) or encouraging government to reject new carbon reducing measures.

As Mary Creagh, the shadow environment secretary for Labour, remarked, "the government has tried to sell of our forests, cut investment in flood defences by 27%, delayed on the waste review and Water White Paper and abolished the Sustainable Development Commission. That's not a green vision but an abject failiure of the government to get to grips with the environment."

A Glance at Fair Trade

The European fair trade market generated approximately $3 billion whilst in the USA it was estimated to be $1.4 billion according to Fair Trade USA. With the global recession just in the rear view mirror Paul Rice of Fair Trade USA mentioned that many had predicted the collapse of the ethical shopper in such pressing times but in actual fact there was "strong growth" throughout.

Fair Trade USA has is a leading certifier of fair trade practices where it also sets standards on labour practices and conservation. It has developed over 800 partnerships in the USA with companies like Ben & Jerry's ice cream who now solely use fair trade vanilla. In total 9500 products in the USA are fair trade accredited which includes the world's first fair trade spirit, FAIR. This is a quinoa based vodka and is a collaboration between Bolivian producers and a Paris business which is now being sold in Chiacgo, New York and San Francisco.

Particularly expanding fair trade markets include those for green peppers, herbs, spices and extracts. However, coffee and fruit still remain global fair trade's most popular products. Other growth stats include a 67% growth in the import of cocoa, 88% of which is fair trade, as well as fair trade citrus products growing 96% and sugar 60%. All in all things seem to look pretty good for the fair trade economy.

How Green is the Coalition Government?

First off, the Coalition pledged to axe plans for a third runway at Heathrow and it indeed did. It also staved off suggestions for further runways at both Gatwick and Stansted however there have been murmurs of expansion at regional airports such as Luton. Conversely, the Coalition didn't cover itself in glory when it made plans to sell of some of the UK's last remaining woodland. It was marketed under the flailing idea of the 'Big Society' by returning public woodland to the communities -- the clue is in the word 'public'. What resulted was a policy lambasted from all sides of the political spectrum and a scrapping of the idea very much in the fashion of a dog with its tail between its legs.

In the now infamous 'cull of the quangos' sustainable development bodies were replaced by seven page documents and groups like the Energy Saving Trust lost 50% of its budget whilst the Carbon Trust lost 40%. So much for the pledge to prioritise sustainability for 'we must live within our environmental means as well as our economic.' However, the Coalition has committed £860 million to the Renewable Heat Incentive which rewards those who adopt more carbon-zero methods of heat production such as solar and biomass. In the 'age of austerity' securing this kind of funding from the Treasury was a ruddy good achievement.

The rise of bovine tuberculosis has led to proposals of a mass badger cull to dissipate any further effects upon the cattle industry. However, the plans were supposed to be released a couple of months ago but weren't due possibly due to the high levels of emotion on both sides. It may result in another back-down by the government like we saw on the forest selling proposals.

Another reasonably ruddy good achievement in securing funding from the Treasury was the £3 billion for the Green Investment Bank but this has unfortunately not operated in the way a commercial bank could have and as a result failed to capitalise on possible opportunities such as Green ISAs. The GIB still exists but needs shackles removing if it is going to run properly and not just become another token of green credibility for the government.

To finish with, it is expected that the government is going to announce in the coming weeks that it has met the conditions of the 10:10 campaign it pledged to which was to reduce emissions by 10% in 2010. It is also in the decision-making process of whether it will sign up to 25:5 -- a pledge to cut emissions in the public sector by 25% over the expected 5 year life time of this parliament.

Nick & Dave: Eco-Warriors

Richard Branson Wants Lemurs

Multi-billionaire businessman and quasi-celebrity Sir Richard Branson wants to bring endangered Madagascan lemurs to the two islands he owns in the Caribbean. The lemur's natural rainforest habitat in Madagascar, the only place in the world where they are found wild, is experiencing an ever increasing rate of deforestation from illegal logging. The situation has worsened in the last few years as the countries political situation has deteriorated.

Branson's motives appear relatively unknown but financial gain seems unlikely considering the one island he owns that operates commercially is a high-end eco-resort which wouldn't seem to benefit enormously should lemurs appear. However, lemurs are commodities and increasingly valuable due to their endangered being. Assuming his interests are environmentally and conservation driven then the lemurs would be free to utilise the forests of his two islands, located in the archipelago of the British Virgin Islands, Moskito and Necker.

However, despite approval from the government of the British Virgin Islands and with consultancy from the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary in South Africa there has been strong objections from conservationists.

Introducing a non-native species to an environment for conservation is rarely done due to the unpredictable nature of the outcomes. The International Union for the Conservations of Nature's Species Survival Commission (IUCN) has pointed to history demonstrating the disastrous consequences of introducing non-native species. In particular cane toads and rabbits in Australia that have crippled much of Australia's wildlife and wiped out native species. They also say that previous experience has shown us that, "the damage done by harmful introductions to natural systems far outweighs the benefit derived from."

The introduction of the lemurs will undoubtedly provide local species with competition for food, both plant and animal, as not all lemurs faithfully subscribe to a diet of just fruit. More than likely, this increased competition will be detrimental to the numbers of once species; either the lemurs or the natives.

Whilst the relocation of endangered animals is increasingly considered an option by the wildlife conservation community due to the plethora of environmental factors affecting such species. However, most relocations are quite local as so not to upset the fragile biodiversity of habitats; precisely not what Branson seeks to do in just a few short weeks.

Llamas Carry Fish Up Mountain

No, they really do. Vendace are an endangered species of fish that have lived in Britain since the Ice Age. They are the UK's rarest freshwater fish but with the impact of climate change and the environmental impact on surrounding lakes and rivers have made Derwentwater, in the Lake District, an unsuitable habitat in the long-term. Aside from rising temperatures affecting the eco-system there are new pressures such as invasive species, pollution and tourist activities that have caused a relocation of Vendace to be necessary.

To ensure their continued existence, the Environment Agency took 25 000 eggs and nurtured them in a hatchery until they were mature enough to be taken to a new, smaller lake 500 metres higher in altitude than their typical home in Derwentwater. Their new home is Sprinkling Tarn which has a lower water temperature that will improve the Vendace's chance of survival. 

The llamas were hired from a local charity, the Llama Karma Kafe, and they along with Fisheries officers transported the Vendace to the cooler waters of the tarn near Seathwaite Fell. Llamas were used in main part because the path was simply too rocky and treacherous to do in 4x4 but also to reduce the carbon footprint of the project.  

The refuge colony is hoped to become self-sustaining over time but until then will continue to be closely monitored. According to the Fisheries Department, Salmon and Trout are being closely monitored too for fear they may need relocation too however they suspect more llamas are going to be need to move these much larger fish. So it seems this unique co-existence between fish and llama looks set to continue.

Doubly Busy Bees

In the last couple of years we have seen the numbers of Western honey bees in the UK drop significantly; even as much as 90% in some areas. 1 in 3 beehives in the UK are considered to be lifeless and there appear to be several contributing factors.

Colony Collapse Disorder can be caused by loss of habitat both in agriculture and in back gardens. Agricultural fields have increased in size over the years with reduced hedgerows that are ideal nesting areas for bees and this is compounded by the increased use of pesticides which provides for an increasingly unaccommodating habitat. Similarly, as back gardens become ever more designed and groomed there are fewer and fewer spots for the honey bees to nest. 

The sharp fall in numbers means that surviving bees have more pollinating to do which is critical to the health of many commercial crops as well as Britain's back gardens. This larger workload has taken it's toll on the remaining population leading to more frequent sights of fatigued bees crawling on lawns. What they need are nearby nests to rest and recuperate but with fewer of these around many die. The BeeStation provides people with the means to help the bees in their back garden with a small ceramic ornament that acts as an artificial nest.

As the Summer approaches we can help tackle the reducing numbers of these crucial bees by making our gardens more bee friendly. This is good news for husbands up and down the country because on Saturday afternoons they can now justify not doing the gardening and watching the football instead.