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CARBON AND CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
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******************************** KONZA PRAIRIE SOIL RESEARCH: -- Steve Watson <swatson@oznet.ksu.edu> ******************************** Study
Evaluates Ocean Fertilization in Reducing CO2 The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) recently announced that WHOI researcher Ken Buesseler and University of Otago researcher Philip Boyd have released the findings of a new study which suggests that reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) by fertilizing the oceans with iron "may not be as attractive a solution as once thought." WHOI noted that the "controversial" idea of ocean fertilization as a means of reducing CO2 initially "gained momentum" in the 1980s, with climate and ocean scientists theorizing that the addition of iron to the ocean surface would increase the production of plankton, which "take up carbon in surface waters during photosynthesis, creating a bloom that other animals feed upon" and subsequently deliver to the seafloor in the form of waste known as "marine snow." According to the researchers, three open-ocean experiments in which iron was used to fertilize large sections of the Southern Ocean "all produced significant increases in planktonic biomass and decreases in dissolved inorganic carbon in the water column." However, Buesseler and Boyd said there was limited evidence "that the particles carried large quantities of carbon to the deep ocean," leading to concerns about "the space and time scales needed for commercial applications and the inefficiency of [the] process." Contact: Shelley Dawicki, WHOI, (508) 289-2270 ******************************** Cooperative Reforestation Project In Texas A diverse group of public and private partners, including Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Reliant Energy, The Conservation Fund and Environmental Synergy Inc. (ESI), recently unveiled the nation’s newest carbon sequestration project at a public ceremony in Austin, Texas. Through a market-based approach that benefits business and the environment, the partners joined forces to create a conservation solution will offset the environmental impacts of greenhouse gasses, provide new fish and wildlife habitat and bring recreation-driven economic benefits to east Texas. On behalf of TPWD, The Conservation Fund acquired nearly 600 acres of converted pastureland, which will be included into the Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife will fund the reforestation of the property, planting approximately 162,500 native trees, in an effort to address climate change, restore wildlife habitat and improve air quality. Over the next 70 years, these trees will capture an estimated 215,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, generating “carbon credits” that will be retained by Reliant. In addition to offsetting greenhouse gases, this newly created bottomland hardwood forest will improve water quality, provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and serve as important habitat benefiting migratory songbirds, waterfowl, white-tailed deer and other wildlife. The lands will be added to the 5,167-acre Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Management Area, located in Smith County, as part of a regional conservation strategy to preserve large tracts of bottomland hardwood forest, decrease habitat fragmentation and reduce urban sprawl in east Texas. "This type of public-private partnership represents a powerful breakthrough in using voluntary and market-driven approaches to address two of the nation’s top environmental concerns -- climate change and habitat protection,” said Lawrence Selzer, president of The Conservation Fund. These projects, structured to scientifically monitor carbon sequestration over time, take advantage of the fact that as plants grow, they incorporate carbon from the atmosphere into their structure through the process of photosynthesis. Sequestration programs encourage corporations and governments to plant trees to offset the impact of carbon emissions. Working with the public and private sectors, The Conservation Fund has partnered with ESI, an Atlanta-based company, on three previous carbon sequestration projects. For more information, see: http://www.conservationfund.org ******************************** EUROPE
MOVES CLOSER TO ENERGY DEMAND LAW BRUSSELS,
Belgium, April 9, 2003 (ENS) - Managing the demand for energy is emerging
as a European strategy for meeting the targets set by the Kyoto Protocol
for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These
emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases occur when fossil fuels such
as coal, oil and natural gas are burned to produce energy. The European
Commission will propose an EU law on energy demand management by the
summer, according to sources. The long promised measure is intended to
boost energy efficiency and help meet the EU's Kyoto Protocol commitment
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Initial proposals by the Commission's
Energy Directorate are said to envision a range of actions designed to
influence energy users. Among
these will be a first ever European Union push to encourage the
development of an energy services market in which services involving the
use of energy are sold, rather than the energy itself. In
the past, efforts to promote the provision of energy services by power
companies stalled for reasons ranging from low consumer interest to poor
incentives for suppliers, since
electricity prices started falling as a result of liberalization.
The
new law, known as a directive, appears likely to endorse a "market
orientated" approach that would enjoy the support of the electricity
industry. “There's an underlying need and potential for cost-effective
measures," an EU source said, and a growing awareness that, with
energy markets liberalization now fully under way, the demand side needs
to be addressed. "If we provide the right framework and incentives,
the rest will probably fall into place," the source added. The
directive would set indicative targets for countries that are members of
the European Union to achieve one percent annual savings in energy
efficiency. Each country would then decide how to distribute this target
among sectors. The
Commission envisages covering all distribution sectors, from electricity
and gas to district heating and transport fuel. An estimated 40 to 45
million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions could be saved every year
once the directive comes into effect, according to a study carried out for
the EU's climate change program. Controversially,
the new directive aims to cover all end users, including non-energy
intensive industries and transport, except for aviation and foreign
shipping. "We're very keen to see the transport sector
included," our source said, "since it's contributing most to the
increase in greenhouse gas emissions." The
public sector would have special responsibilities through additional green
procurement requirements. Financial instruments would be put in place to
facilitate the buying and selling of energy services, and to support the
setting up of specialist energy services companies. {Published in cooperation with ENDS Environment Daily, Europe's choice for environmental news. Environmental Data Services Ltd, London, Email: envdaily@ends.co.uk} ******************************** JAPAN
TO INTRODUCE 'ENVIRONMENT TAX' DESPITE KYOTO PROGRESS Officials
with Japan's Ministry of the Environment (MOE) recently announced the
agency will introduce a new "environment tax" intended to help
the country meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction requirements
under the Kyoto Protocol regardless of whether the treaty enters into
force next year. "We
must make efforts to curb global warming even if the protocol does not
come into effect next year," said MOE vice minister Masaharu
Nakagawa. Under its Kyoto obligation, Japan is required to reduce GHG
emissions to six percent below 1990 levels by 2012. MOE
said the treaty, which must be ratified by 55 states representing 55
percent of the carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions produced by developed nations in 1990 to become effective, will
enter into force 90 days after being ratified by Russia. -- Kyodo News Service, April 11, 2003 ******************************** MEETINGS
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