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UK Government Announces New Zero Carbon Targets
On the 17th December the UK government published its proposals for achieving zero carbon developments. The proposed definition of a zero carbon home includes a very high level of energy efficiency plus the ability to import offsite and near site energy efficiency measures. See New Zero Carbon Targets. A minimum level of carbon reductions that would need to be achieved (carbon compliance level) compared to today’s Building Regulations of between 44 and 100 percent of emissions from the home (not including cooking and appliances, which are not at present covered by Building Regulations). The remaining carbon emissions (including from cooking and appliances) would need to be addressed via a proposed list of allowable solutions comprising: i) Credit for any energy efficient appliances or advanced forms of building control system (such as smart systems which automatically adjust energy settings if the home is unoccupied) installed by the house builder that reduce the anticipated energy demand from the home ii) Where, as a result of the development, low carbon or renewable heat (or cooling) is exported from the development itself, or from an installation that is connected to the development, to existing properties that were previously heated (or cooled) by fossil fuels, then credit will be given for the resulting carbon savings Near-site carbon offsetting iii) Credit for S106 Planning Obligations paid by the developer towards local low and zero carbon energy infrastructure iv) Retrofitting works undertaken by the developer to transform the energy efficiency of existing buildings in the vicinity of the development Far-site offsetting v) Any investment by the developer in low and zero carbon energy infrastructure (limited to the UK and UK waters) where the benefits of ownership of that investment are passed to the purchaser of the home vi) Where offsite renewable electricity is connected to the development by a direct physical connection, a credit for any carbon savings relative to grid electricity This is great news for not only developers, but also the climate and renewables industry as it is clear that the UK Government has finally recognised the fallacy of requiring 100% on-site renewables and has now allowed ( in consultation at least) the concept of carbon offsetting to meet demands. The real question is where will this take us and what will it inspire…watch this space GB
Is Geo-Engineering the Answer?
Today’s Independent carries a spine chilling headline ‘Climate Scientists:it’s time for Plan B’. In summary it seems that many of the world’s leading scientists are saying that CO2 levels are now so high and the efforts made to reduce them to date so pathetic that there is really no choice but to put Plan B into action. Jim Lovelock, author of the Gaia theory says ‘I am less optimistic now about the ability of the Earth’s climate system to cope with expected increases in atmospheric carbon levels compared with 10 years ago. I strongly agree that we now need a “plan B” where a geoengineering strategy is drawn up in parallel with other measures to curb CO2 emissions. However, climate change is an Earth system problem and the UN is not a suitable body to host or organise it’. Professor Chris Rapley, director of the Science Museum, London says ‘My real concern is that the need to take action is now very urgent. Events in the Arctic suggest that we may already be passing through a significant “tipping point”. The action taken in response to the credit crunch indicates the scale and speed of what is possible. Saving the ecosystem services upon which we all depend would seem to be at least as important as baling out the worldwide cartel of reckless and greedy bankers’ Professor Kerry Emanuel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. ‘While a geoengineering solution is bound to be less than desirable, the probability of getting global agreement on emissions reductions before it is to late is very small’. Professor David Archer, Chicago University. ‘Carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere will continue to affect climate for many millennia. Relying on geoengineering schemes such as sulphate aerosols would be analogous to putting the planet on life support. If future humanity failed to pay its ‘climate bill’ – a bill that we left them, thank you very much – they would bear the full brunt of climate change within a very short time’. Depressing reading to start the new year, have all other alternatives really been lost? NO I say, we cannot sit by whilst our planet burns. ACTION, ACTION, ACTION and if this includes setting up a new international body to develop world legislation as James Lovelock suggests, then so be it, but who on earth will lead it and how do we get agreement across all nations…back to the old Kyoto conundrum, ‘ I will if you will…‘ and you just know where that will get us;absolutely no where. And so it is down to all of us to take leadership, from the bottom up. If we all shout loud enough, with one voice then perhaps something will happen. BUT this also means that we must all begin by taking responsibility for our own actions and responsibility for our own carbon. So get on with it. Measure, Reduce, Invest, and then Report to the world what you are doing! Do it here, do it now GB
Responsible Capitalism - Is there such a thing?
Two articles caught my eye today. The first an article from The Earth Blog that tells us that the world’s economy must shrink if we are to survive. The second, today in the Guardian, an article by Timothy Garton Ash discussing the future of capitalism ‘2009 brings hard choices over the future of capitalism’. The ‘Earth Blog’ argues that unless the world economy shrinks and we move away from a growth economy then all is lost. Mmm, whilst I totally disagree with those who believe in reverse growth as the only way forward, it seems that according to Timothy that we may get there anyway! It is clear from the fall out over the past months that the liberal and unchecked capitalism that has brought us to this abyss is dead (Madoff has all but sealed the coffin with the final nail!) . But without capitialism or some form of it, the poor will stay poor, suffering will continue, democracy and free speech will slip away and certainly global warming will not be solved. It therefore seems to me that capitalism needs to be defined, and re-energised. A new set of values and a new mission. In his book ‘the extreme future’ James Canton talks about the ‘Innovation Economy’ and defines it with the following formula I+C+D=P2 or Innovation+Capitalism+Democracy=Prosperity and Peace I just love his distillation of the core issues and the audacity of his simplification ! If only it was that simple but I guess that JC has the advantage of being a futurist - he can afford to ignore the details and just get on with the vision of the future, that is assuming no Black Swans (wtt NN Taleb) swim along to mess it all up! And so my question is; Is there such a thing as Responsible Capitalism ( Bill Gates calls is Creative Capitalism, but this title seems to be just plain woolly) or is such a conceit just a contradiction in terms? Does capitilism by its very nature have to inspire both the good and the bad i.e. you cannot have the good without the bad; it is just a matter of limiting the bad and maximising the good? Thoughts? GB
New Year Resolutions
So now is the time, in fact some of you should already have made them! My green ones are… Drive less If you are looking for some good ones try these courtesy of Sustainablog. Happy New Year!! Guy ps Green Champage thanks to The Green Parent - they also have a host more resolutions if you are still stuck!
Greenwash Award 2008
To a great fan fare and stirring drum roll Greenpeace announced yesterday their 2008 Award for Greenwash which goes to BP for their PR campaign in ‘Mixed energy’. I have shown the link below. It’s worth the time to look at it as it is embarrassingly funny and you can be sure will not have gone down well at board level. Greenpeace Emerald PaintBrush Award BUT, should BP be singled out as the worst offender, and did they take into account all the good that BP has done with its ’carbon footrpint’ campaign. Also was there any real shortlist drawn up by Greenpeace and if so can we see it? I must admit this video smacks of ‘judge and jury’ and whilst it is funny, it does not seem right that BP should get all the rotten eggs thrown at them alone when there are so many other worthy recipients. Next year may I suggest that Greenpeace run on-line nomination to reach a shortlist, which they publish and then have an on-line vote to get the worst offender. Now that would be fun and I can think of a few names already that I would feature… Virgin Fuels - All his profits? GB ps Image co. Start Up Nation who will help you avoid the greenwash! article entitled ‘How to Avoid Greenwashing in Your Marketing Efforts’
A Mirror and Lens - Through the looking glass to 2009
I am ill and have been bed bound since boxing day and it looks like I will still be in bed until next year ( just a few days to go thank goodness!). In between my relapses I have taken the opportunity to do things that I would not normally get the time to do, like read this amazing book. I am looking for inspiration next year and Kahlil Gibran offers a mirror and lens. A mirror to view the past but also a lens through which to view the future. The key decision will be how to live the present! The book was first published in 1926 and I have posted a few quotations from his writings Of Work ‘You work so that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth. For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons and to step out of life’s processions that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite…when you work you fulfil a part of earth’s furthest dream assigned to you when that dream was born’ Of Buying and Selling- ‘ To you the earth yields her fruit and you shall not want if you but know how to fill your hands. It is in exchanging gitts of the earth that you shall find abundance and be satisfied. Yet unless the exchange be in love and kindly justice, it will lead to greed and others to hunger’ Of Reason and Passion - ‘ Your reason and your passion are your rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either of your sails or your rudder is broken you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas’ Of Talking - ‘And in much of your talking, thinking is murdered…for thought is a bird of space that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly’ I have chosen the first three quotes because in some way they are all relevant to Planet Positive - Our work constantly reminds us of our connectedness to the planet, it is our destiny(?). We believe in the just distribution of its resources;what we do is is our passion and reason. The fourth I offer as a dilemma. Is it better to find time and space to think without boundaries or is it sometimes necessary to take action and in doing so accept that there are limits in what you can do? How can we translate this freedom of thought into freedom of action? GB
The Responsible Consumer(ism)
As we approach Christmas and we are sucked into the cycle of purhasing I am wondering if there is a way of making this present fest somehow good for the planet? ‘Baah Humbug! I hear you cry, xmas is for children and you should not be transposing your own feelings of guilt over the rest of us. We just want to enjoy!’ Well, I ask, shouldn’t it be possible to do both by being responsible in our shopping choices - the goods we buy, the places we go to, the manner in which we dispose of our old purchases. Surely this is not much to ask for saving the planet and preserving our way of life? So after this splurge, let’s make 2009 the year of Responsible Consumerism. GB
Planet Positive Night Out
We had a ’soft launch’ last wedenesday for friends and family, specifically to test out our carbon calculator which will go live at the end of the year, ready for 2009. Great night! We had over 150 people ( kids, parents, grandparents), drinks and food provided by a range of great organisations ( see list below) and music provided by our very only Tony Siantonas and his band ‘John Bull and the Bandits’. I took an enormous amount out of the evening, apart from the fact that so many turned up, it was clear that we are at the start of something BIG and that there is a hunger for solutions. Despite the enormity facing us all, the sense of optimism in the room was palpable, born on a wave of hope and a real desire to actually DO SOMETHING RIGHT. My thanks to everyone who attended, you are now part of the Planet Positive Community. Let’s work together to make 2009 a year to remember and a year of change! Guy With many thanks to our sponsors
Wine: Eco-Friendly Wines - Organic Italian Wines Wine: Ethical Edibles - Organic, and/or sourced from small producers implementing fair trade criteria, or from family-run enterprises preserving traditional forms of cultivation and processing, and perpetuating local traditional food culture Beer: Daas Beer - Daas Beer, an organically brewed Belgium beer. Daas Beer is the only Belgian beer to carry both the Certsys Belgium and UK Soil Assoc organic certifications Beer: Freedom Brewery - Britain’s first ever micro-brewed lager. Freedom has been winning awards and winning the loyalty of a small group of lager drinkers who demand quality in their beer. Freedom Organic is even Vegan friendly (most beers aren’t). Gin: Juniper Green Organic Gin by London & Scottish International - Juniper Green is 100% organic. Juice: Soma Organic – Organic Juice Crisps: Pipers Crisps - handmade crisps sourced from individual suppliers who are passionate about the quality of their product. Fudge: Roskillys – Uses organic Jersey milk and cream. The milk comes from the 94 strong herd of Jersey cows which graze on pastures. No chemicals or pesticides means milk with its natural goodness intact. Goodie Bags: a. Coffee: Natural Coffee Company -. All their coffees are certified by the Soil Association, the Fairtrade Foundation and are also Kosher registered by the London Beth Din. b. Green Tea & Mulling Wine Sugar: Steenbergs Organic – Organic & Fairtrade spices and cooking ingredients. c. T-Shirt: T Shirt & Sons - Europe’s only certified organic textile printer. http://www.tshirtandsons.co.uk/
Poem of The Week
I thought I would share this with you. I like it, not because it speaks of regret and ‘if only’ but because it ultimately speaks of hope and that It is nevver too late to do what you always wanted to do even up to the age of 84 years and 364 days. Esentially this is what Planet Positive is all about and why we started it. No one told us to do it, no one even asked us for it; it was something we all felt that we HAD to do and rather than sitting back and waiting we jumped off the edge and are now trying to make it happen. So here it is ‘Instants’ by Jorge Luis Borges
Eternal Optimist
Great comment in from Mel who asks ‘How does the future look to you? How far do we need to change our way of life and what exactly are we ’sustaining’? I guess I’m asking you how much of an optimist you are? ‘
Well, in this line of work, one has to be an eternally optimistic, never say die, and it ain’t over till the fat lady sings etc
Seriously, I have been working in this field for over 15 years (as an engineer in BattleMcCarthy), banging my head against brick walls is a part of the job description. But, if I look back at the past, it is clear that we are now in the midst of a tidal shift. This shift is already in full swing in the world of commercial development with many developers now seeing the absolute requirement to go green. The attendance at the USGBC Green Build Conference is a good barometer for this; 500 people when I first started going 8 years ago and now at over 30,000.
As to the amount of change needed we only need to look at what the UK Government is saying - a 80% reduction against 1990 baseline. This is not a small saving, this is no less than a paradigm shift in how individuals and businesses manage carbon. Mel goes on to say ‘As for culture change, I believe we’re starting to see the philospohical change already, but as often happens, the action is lagging the mindset. Which can be very frustrating, but gives hope also’
I agree entirely, what we are not yet seeing is a mass change movement in how people ( you and I) are living our lives and nor are we seeing any real sea change in the choices we make. The sentiment is there, but still lacking concrete action. It is only when we all start demanding a different approach and start changing our buying habits that will we even begin to see the change that is needed. This is what Planet Positive is all about; creating a ground swell in change, and empowering people through the choices they make to encourage business to change as well. Planet Positive It is also a message of hope and belief in what we have is WORTH saving! I would be very interested to hear from anyone as to how this may be accelerated and what we at Planet Positive can do to encourage this.
Guy 15 December 2008 |
