World Environment Magazine, Issue 5

No 05 / April 2010 WORLD ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE www.worldenvironment.tv

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

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OUT OF TIME? |

ARE WE

RUNNING

05

WORLD ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE WORLD ENVIRONMENT

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Number 05 | April 2010

CHAIRMAN Andrea Tucci a.tucci@worldenvironment.tv EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Cathy Chami Tyan c.tyan@worldenvironment.tv

Global Warming >8

EDITORIAL PROJECT COORDINATOR Marc Wiliam Lowe m.lowe@worldenvironment.tv

Sustainable Development >42

CONTRIBUTORS Alya Kebiri, Steffen Lehmann, Frederico Niglia, Gabriella Porilli, Mai Samaha Elsa J. Sattout, Cathy Chami Tyan.

Energy >36

CONCEPT & DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY Aero Sekur, AFD/FFEM, Anter Park, Cida De Aragon, Cityförster, myclimate, Steffen Lemann, Shark Alliance, Simon Rogerson, Solar Impulse.

SALES AND ADVERTISEMENTS adv@worldenvironment.tv SUBSCRIPTIONS: Subscription@worldenvironment.tv PRINTING RAIDY | www.raidy.com

Biodiversity >64

Editorial: >1

Running Out of Time

>8

From Hopenhagen to Flopenhagen What Really Happened in Copenhagen?

Post Copenhagen UNFCCC Starts Receiving List of Government Climate Pledges Addressing Climate Change and Food Security Together Germany: the Rise of the New Environmental Power Carbon Offsetting: High Quality Climate Protection

>10 >16 >20 >26

ISSN 17379229

>56

A Team of Young Architects Wins the Europan 10 Competition for the Site of Heidelberg in Dennmark

>76

Tens of Thousands of Europeans Come Together in Support of a Stronger EU Shark Finning Ban Snapshots on 18 Months of Achievements AFD/FFEM Project “Appui Aux Réserves Naturelles du Liban”

Global Warming:

PUBLISHED BY World Environment Group COPYRIGHT The articles become part of the magazine’s archive. Further publishings on other issues must be authorized by the editor following the author’s consent.

Eco-Living >88

Biodiversity:

>80

Ecoliving: >88

Energy: >36

“Solarimpulse” Inventing the Future: Around the World in a Solar Airplane

> 93 >102

Sustainable Development: >42 >50

The Future is Green A Conversation Between Two German Architects in Sydney Controlled Environment Agriculture: One Small Step For Aero Sekur

>112 >118

Program of the Ministry of Environment of Lebanon for 2010-2012 Many Heavens, One Earth: Faith Commitments for a Living Planet Corporations & Responsibility, Where Do We Stand?

The Mozambican Rural Women Forum Stars Foundation Expands Prestigious Impact Awards into Middle-East, East Asia and Pacific Regions

WORLD ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE’s policy is to use papers that are natural, renewable, recyclable and made from wood grown in sustainable forests. This item has helped slow down global deforestation, which amounts to 15 million hectares annually. In addition, all waste is sent for recycling.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE is available online at www.worldenvironment.tv

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

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April, 2010

Running out of time

T

he year 2009 ended in a pessimistic note. Copenhagen did not meet the expectations of those who relied on world leaders to take the world in the right direction through a legally binding, just and fair deal to all.

Yes time is running, yes we need to stop over consumption, yes we need to control the way we endlessly use the earth resources.

For all these reasons, I would like to dedicate this issue to all the people who work tirelessly for the sake of humanity, dedicating their time, genius and passion to change the fate of the world.

Nothing can be better expressed, and with as much passion as in “Home” a breathtaking movie, by Yann Arthus Bertrand and Luc Besson, that I invite you all to watch. The movie is about the wonders of the world and the vulnerability of our home planet Earth.

In Conclusion, we need to remember, as they say in the movie, that: “The atmosphere is heating up. Transport, industry, deforestation, agriculture; these activities release gigantic quantities of carbon dioxide. Without realizing it, we have upset the earth climatic balance. The arctic ice caps are melting; humanity has never lived in an atmosphere like this. By 2050, one quarter of the earth species could be threatened with extinction...

All we have to do is look up. It is time to get together. What is important is to save what is left…”

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THE

BOOK REVIEW

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Edit by: William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer The extraordinary true story of a Malawian teenager who transformed his village by building electric windmills out of junk is the subject of a new book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Self-taught William Kamkwamba has been feted by climate change campaigners like Al Gore and business leaders the world over. His against-all-odds achievements are all the more remarkable considering he was forced to quit school aged 14 because his family could no longer afford the $80-ayear (£50) fees. When he returned to his parents' small plot of farmland in the central Malawian village of Masitala, his future seemed limited. But this was not another tale of African potential thwarted by poverty.

The Politics of Climate Change

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An Inconvenient Truth Edited by: Al Gore An Inconvenient Truth—Gore’s groundbreaking, battle cry of a follow-up to the bestselling Earth in the Balance—is being published to tie in with a documentary film of the same name. Both the book and film were inspired by a series of multimedia presentations on global warming that Gore created and delivers to groups around the world. With this book, Gore, who is one of our environmental heroes—and a leading expert—brings together leading-edge research from top scientists around the world; photographs, charts, and other illustrations; and personal anecdotes and observations to document the fast pace and wide scope of global warming. He presents, with alarming clarity and conclusiveness—and with humor, too—that the fact of global warming is not in question and that its consequences for the world we live in will be disastrous if left unchecked. This riveting new book written in an accessible, entertaining style—will open the eyes of even the most skeptical.

Edit by: Anthony Giddens "A landmark study in the struggle to contain climate change, the greatest challenge of our era. I urge everyone to read it."

Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States of America Climate change differs from any other problem that, as collective humanity, we face today. If it goes unchecked, the consequences are likely to be catastrophic for human life on earth. Yet for most people, and for many policy-makers too, it tends to be a 'back of the mind' issue. We recognise its importance and even its urgency, but for the most part it is swamped by more immediate concerns. Politicians have woken up to the dangers, but at the moment their responses are mainly on the level of gesture rather than being, as they have to be, both concrete and radical.

Political action and intervention, on local, national and international levels, is going to have a decisive effect on whether or not we can limit global warming, as well as how we adapt to that already occurring. At the moment, however, Anthony Giddens argues controversially, we do not have a systematic politics of climate change. Politics-as-usual won't allow us to deal with the problems we face, while the recipes of the main challenger to orthodox politics, the green movement, are flawed at source. Giddens introduces a range of new concepts and proposals to fill in the gap, and examines in depth the connections between climate change and energy security. This book is likely to become a classic in the field. It will be of appeal to everyone concerned about how we can cope with what amounts to a crisis for our civilisation.

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Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution Edited by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins In Natural Capitalism, three top strategists show how leadingedge companies are practicing "a new type of industrialism" that is more efficient and profitable while saving the environment and creating jobs.

Paul Hawken and Amory and Hunter Lovins write that in the next century, cars will get 200 miles per gallon without compromising safety and power, manufacturers will relentlessly recycle their products, and the world's standard of living will jump without further damaging natural resources. "Is this the vision of a utopia? In fact, the changes described here could come about in the decades to come as the result of economic and technological trends already in place," the authors write.

They call their approach natural capitalism because it's based on the principle that business can be good for the environment. For instance, Interface of Atlanta doubled revenues and employment and tripled profits by creating an environmentally friendly system of recycling floor coverings for businesses.

The authors also describe how the next generation of cars is closer than we might think. Manufacturers are already perfecting vehicles that are ultralight, aerodynamic, and fueled by hybrid gas-electric systems. If natural capitalism continues to blossom, so much money and resources will be saved that societies will be able to focus on issues such as housing, contend Hawken, author of a book and PBS series called Growing a Business, and the Lovinses, who cofounded and directed the Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmental think tank.

The book is a fascinating and provocative read for public-policy makers, as well as environmentalists and capitalists alike. -Dan Ring- This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The Principles of Green Urbanism.

Regenerating the Post-Industrial City Edited by Steffen Lehmann How can urbanism ever be green, based on ecological principles? The answer is to use energy-efficient, zero-carbon models based on renewable energy sources and renewable building typologies, and the principles of ‘Green Urbanism’.

We need to transform and future-proof the post-industrial city through strategies of architectural and urban design.

This book presents different models for sustainable urban development, based on the principles of 'Green Urbanism'.

Current and emergent forms of urbanism are influenced by climate change, leading to the idea of a new generation of 'zero-emission cities'. These cities are seen as applying new concepts in densification and expansion, designed with energy-efficiency and sustainability as principal criteria. The aim of this type of 'Systems Thinking' is to connect and integrate sustainable design principles with a holistic idea for the future of our cities, to generate future-proof strategies for the revitalization of the urban landscape. The first section of the book clearly explains these principles and how they can be employed, illustrated by clear diagrams for ease of comprehension. The principles as applied are then explored through in-depth case studies of the post-industrial Australian city of Newcastle, which is at an important juncture in its urban evolution. Strategies for ‘Green Urbanism’ are presented that are both local and global in scope and relevance.

This is essential reading for urban designers, architects, landscape architects and researchers/students in these disciplines around the world.

The Future of Life Edited by E.O. Wilson The most eloquent, convincing argument yet that preserving our fragile world is a moral responsibility. From one of the world's most influential scientists (and two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning author) comes his most timely and important book yet: an impassioned call for quick and decisive action to save Earth's biological heritage, and a plan to achieve that rescue.

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DID YOU KNOW

1

Idling your car 10 minutes every day can produce over a quarter ton of CO2 every year.

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The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth

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About 3.6 billion of the world’s 5.2 billion hectares of useful dryland for agriculture has suffered erosion and soil degradation. In more than 100 countries, 1 billion of the 6 billion world population is affected by desertification, forcing people to leave their farms for jobs in the cities.

4

There are more than a million animal species. There are 6,000 species of reptiles, 73,000 kinds of spiders, and 3,000 types of lice. For each person there is about 200 million insects.

The 4,600 kinds of mammals represent a mere 0,3% of animals and the 9,000 kinds of birds only 0,7%. The most abundant bird species is the red-billed quelea of sub-Saharan Africa, numbering almost 2 billion.

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There are about a billion bicycles in the world, twice as many as motorcars. Almost 400 million bicycles are in China. Every year some 50 million bicycles – and 20 million cars – are produced. Although Leonardo Da Vinci drew some rough sketches of a contraption that looked like a bicycle, the Frenchman De Sivrac built the first bicycle-type vehicle in 1690.

6

The first documented lighthouse was the Lighthouse of Alexandria, built in 200 BC on the island of Pharos by the Egyptian Emperor Ptolemy.

Considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, it is thought to have been 492 ft (150 metres) high – about three times taller than modern lighthouses.

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Plant-eating dinosaurs did not eat grass, because there wasn’t any – so it is thought.

During the Mesozoic Era, when the dinosaurs lived, conifers – cone-bearing trees and shrubs – dominated the landscape. They included redwoods, yews, pines, palms, cypress and the monkey puzzle tree. Flowering plants and grass evolved only later.

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The largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia Arnoldi, weighs 7 kg (15 pounds) and grows only on the Sumatra island of Indonesia. Its petals grow to 1.6 ft (1 metre) long and 1 inch (2,5 cm) thick.

The highest bridge in the world can be found in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan Mountains. The valley lies at an altitude of about 5 602 m (18,379 ft) above sea level on the India side of Kashmir.

Called the Baily Bridge, it is only 30 metres (98 ft) long, and was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.

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One can live without food for almost a month but survive no longer than a week without water. Yet, although almost half of the world’s population live in water-scarce countries, there actually is enough of this precious liquid for everyone.

The UN recommends that a person needs minimum of 50 litres of water a day for drinking, washing, cooking and sanitation, which over a billion people do not have access to.

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By Alia KEBIRI

FROM HOPENHAGEN TO FLOPENHAGEN WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN COPENHAGEN?

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he outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Convention is disappointing and weak. We knew it would be that, but hoped to emerge with a serious framework for real solutions. Formally, diplomatically, legally, we didn't get that.

Copenhagen is not just a missed opportunity. It is a collective failure by the world's top political «dignitaries». More than 120 Heads of State and Government made their appearances with powerful eloquence, grand gestures and theatrical demeanor. Not one speech failed to contain the sentences: «Climate change is the greatest challenge of the 21st century.» «The time for talking is over, we must act now. » «What is at stake is nothing less than the future of our children.» «We dare not fail.» After three days and nights of the frenzied gridlock, the 30 mightiest 8

players on the world stage presented the «rest» of the negotiating States with a document called the «Copenhagen Accord». For the purposes of effective climate protection, it can only be described as worthless. Even more ludicrous was that they took note of, then criticized the inadequacy of the very policy declaration they had presented: «It is not sufficient to meet the threat of climate change,» said the US negotiator. How true. Despite the urgent warnings from the scientific community that time is running out, despite dramatic appeals from developing countries and island States threatened with disaster, the world community has ended up with empty hands.

Copenhagen failed to deliver on what the 193 countries had already promised and agreed two years ago in Bali: to build further on the Kyoto Protocol, which runs until 2012. If there was still

common will and mutual trust back then, what predominated this time around was selfishness and distrust.

During Copenhagen, it became quite clear to the forest industry that the world is not ready for a low-carbon bio-economy, but instead remains stuck on fossil fuels. Renewable natural resources such as wood were still not granted a special status and the work to define the concept of forest sinks remains incomplete.

The commitment made in Copenhagen is not in any way comparable to the EU's climate and energy policy commitments. The problem of carbon leakage was not resolved. An equal competitive status for companies from different parts of the world was not guaranteed.

The EU's unilateral climate targets still resemble a minor working bee, falling far short of the effort required to clean up the world. European industry needs

Global Warming

«Copenhagen is a betrayal of the poor, a betrayal of the particularly vulnerable countries, a betrayal of our small island States and of all this planet's children and grandchildren.»

a stable climate policy that enables it to anticipate future developments. The EU should establish clear operating prerequisites for clean industry. Industry means doing, manufacturing and producing. The development of European industry must be encouraged in order to supply people with climate-friendly products and services at a reasonable price. This development presupposes an equitable competitive position with the rest of the world.

However, the EU and the USA remain worlds apart. The USA lacked any serious readiness to reduce their emissions quickly and drastically. They were unwilling to assume their historic responsibility for climate warming.

China does not want to «hamper» its fast-growing economy by means of a climate protection agreement. The rift between industrialized, emerging and developing countries could not

be bridged. Hardly anything was heard in Copenhagen about solidarity and justice. The upshot is that there is no binding agreement that would effectively slow down climate change.

Developing countries were promised some dough to help curb climate change, but, as a whole, the negotiations flopped like a pancake. The necessary effort will once again balloon to unruly proportions by the Mexico convention, but matters will hopefully be brought to conclusion in that warmer environment.

Once again, the victims are the poor and defenseless people in the developing countries that are already being hard hit by climate change today. The representative of one Pacific island hit the nail on the head when he said: «Copenhagen is a betrayal of the poor, a betrayal of the particularly vulnerable countries, a betrayal of our small

island States and of all this planet's children and grandchildren.»

Awareness of the problem on the part of critical and concerned world public opinion is obviously greater than the readiness of politicians to take action.

This is why it is so important for civil society and non-governmental organizations, which had strongly advocated a «bottom up» global climate policy in Copenhagen, to keep up the pressure on their governments back home. In any event, we will not discharge the Swiss Federal Council from its responsibility. Switzerland must now pursue a climate policy that represents a genuine contribution to global climate protection. Only in this way will the community of nations still stand a chance of finding the emergency exit, which was written, to no avail, above the main entrance to the Copenhagen conference centre.

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POST COPENHAGEN UNFCCC STARTS RECEIVING LIST OF GOVERNMENT CLIMATE PLEDGES

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ollowing the conclusion of the climate change talks in Copenhagen, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has received submissions of national pledges to cut and limit greenhouse gases by 2020 from 55 countries.

These countries together account for 78 per cent of global emissions from energy use.

“This represents an important invigoration of the UN climate change talks under the two tracks of Longterm Cooperative Action under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol”, said Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC. “The commitment to confront climate change at the highest level is beyond doubt. These pledges have been formally communicated to the UNFCCC. Greater ambition is required to meet the scale of the challenge. But I see these pledges as clear signals of willingness to move negotiations towards a successful conclusion”, he said.

Industrialized countries listed their mid-term targets to cut emissions: AUSTRALIA: Australia will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% 10

on 2000 levels by 2020 if the world agrees to an ambitious global deal capable of stabilizing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at 450 ppm CO2-eq or lower. Australia will unconditionally reduce our emissions by 5% below 2000 levels by 2020, and by up to 15% by 2020 if there is a global agreement which falls short of securing atmospheric stabilization at 450 ppm CO2-eq and under which major developing economies commit to substantially restrain emissions and advanced economies take on commitments comparable to Australia's.

Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom) acting in common reiterated their conditional offer to move to a 30% reduction by 2020 compared to 1990 levels, provided that other developed countries commit themselves to comparable emission reductions and that developing countries contribute adequately according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities.

CANADA: -17%, to be aligned with

JAPAN: Japan commits to a 25%

the final economy-wide emissions target of the United States in enacted legislation.

reduction, which is premised on the establishment of a fair and effective international framework in which all major economies participate and on agreement by those economies on ambitious targets.

CROATIA: -5% is the temporary target for Croatia. Upon the accession of Croatia to the European Union, the Croatian target shall be replaced by arrangement in line with and part of the European Union mitigation effort.

EU AND ITS MEMBER STATES: As part of a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012, the EU and its Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland,

NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand is prepared to take on a responsibility target for greenhouse gas emissions reductions of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, if there is a comprehensive global agreement. This means that the global agreement sets the world on a pathway to limit temperature rise to not more than 2° C;

Global Warming

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

developed countries make comparable efforts to those of New Zealand; advanced and major emitting developing countries take action fully commensurate with their respective capabilities; there is an effective set of rules for land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF); and there is full recourse to a broad and efficient international carbon market.

NORWAY: As part of a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012 where major emitting Parties agree on emissions reductions in line with the 2 degrees Celsius target, Norway will move to a level of 40% reduction for 2020.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION: The Russian Federation will move to a 15-25%* level of reduction for 2020.

In the range of 17%, in conformity with anticipated U.S. energy and climate legislation, recognizing that the final target will be reported to the Secretariat in light of enacted legislation.

The pathway set forth in pending legislation would entail a 30% reduction in 2025 and a 42% reduction in 2030, in line with the goal to reduce emissions 83% by 2050.

Developing countries communicated information on their nationally appropriate mitigation actions:

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Post Copenhagen UNFCCC Starts Receiving list of Government Climate Pledges

MALDIVES: The Maldives will achieve carbon neutrality as a country by 2020. It is presently undertaking detailed work on implementation of this action and will register a request for technological, financial and capacity building support for implementation.

MEXICO: Mexico adopted its Special Climate Change Program in 2009 including a set of nationally appropriate mitigation and adaptation actions to be undertaken in all relevant sectors.

The full implementation of the Programme will achieve a reduction in total annual emissions of 51 million tons of CO2e by 2012, with respect to the business as usual scenario.

Mexico aims at reducing its GHG emissions up to 30% with respect to the business as usual scenario by 2020, provided the provision of adequate financial and technological support from developed countries as part of a global agreement.

INDIA: India will endeavour to reduce the emissions intensity of its GOP by 20-25% by 2020 in comparison to the 2005 level.

This proposed domestic actions are voluntary in nature and will not have a legally binding character. Further, these actions will be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the relevant national legislations and policies well as the principle

THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA: To reduce national green house gas emissions by 30% from the business as usual emissions by 2020 The next round of formal negotiations is scheduled to be in Bonn, Germany, at the end of May 2010. Several countries have indicated their wish to see a quick return to the negotiations with more meetings than the scheduled sessions. We are seeking further guidance from governments, de Boer added.

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Global Warming

COPENHAGEN

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DIRE WINTER TRIGGERS LIVESTOCK DISASTER IN MONGOLIA

21 000 FAMILIES AT RISK

OF FOOD INSECURITY AND POVERTY B

eijing/Ulaanbaatar, 2 February 2010 – Temperatures plunging to -50°C have killed 1.7 million head of livestock in Mongolia, threatening the livelihoods of 21 000 herder families and putting them at risk of food insecurity, FAO warned today.

An FAO rapid needs assessment on the impact of the disaster has found that urgent external assistance of some $6 million is needed over the next two to three months to help the herders make it through to spring. A spell of intense cold, with temperatures plummeting to minus 40-50°C

followed a very dry and long summer and autumn which produced insufficient fodder to feed livestock during the winter months. Such extreme weather is known locally as a Dzud.

More deaths feared The ongoing Dzud has resulted in huge livestock losses, with 1.7 million deaths counted as of 31 January. If current conditions persist, the government estimates that losses could reach 3-4 million head of livestock by spring.

One third of the population of Mongolia leads nomadic lives and de-

pends entirely on livestock for a living. Their cattle, sheep, goats, horses and camels are the main household asset and are perishing from cold, exhaustion or starvation. Total economic losses so far are estimated at $62 million. Also, substantial numbers of wildlife are dying.

Fourteen of Mongolia’s 21 provinces are considered seriously affected. According to the FAO assessment mission, in eight provinces 21 000 herder families owning between 100 and 300 head of livestock each have lost more than 50 percent of their herds.

Food insecurity

Medium-term interventions should focus on disaster preparedness and risk reduction plans and strategies, and FAO is ready to provide assistance to the country as required.

If assistance is not provided soon, the mission warned, spreading poverty will lead to mass migration to the cities later this year.

vestock input support for the most vulnerable herders as a top priority.

In parallel, fodder, supplementary feed and veterinary care is urgently needed for weak and stressed animals until mid-April, with funding requirements of $6 million. Detailed project profiles are under preparation for submission to donors.

Medicinal supplement

The FAO mission visited Mongolia from 27 January to 1 February.

The FAO mission stressed the urgent need to strengthen household food security for the most vulnerable families to prevent further loss of their assets, and proposed immediate li-

FAO's Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific has provided 5 000 doses of medicinal food supplement for dairy cows, pregnant heifers and young bulls as immediate assistance.

The affected families face increased levels of food and livelihood insecurity as their cash income rapidly declines and prices of fodder climb sharply compared to last year.

Mongolia covers an area of 1.6 million square kilometers, an area roughly the size of Western Europe.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT: www.fao.org

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ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD SECURITY TOGETHER Opportunities in agriculture should not be missed - FAO publishes policy brief

F

arming practices that capture carbon and store it in agricultural soils offer some of the most promising options for early and costeffective action on climate change in developing countries, while contributing to food security, FAO said in a policy brief prepared for the Copenhagen summit.

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Yet agriculture has been largely excluded from the main climate financing mechanisms under discussion in Denmark, the agency said.

Agriculture not only suffers the impacts of climate change, it is also responsible for 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

But agriculture has the potential to be an important part of the solution, through mitigation-reducing and/or removing a significant amount of global emissions. Some 70 percent of its potential for reducing emissions could be realized in developing countries, FAO said. "We hope the UN summit in Copenhagen will send a clear signal

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that agriculture in developing countries should play a vital role in responding to this global challenge," said Alexander MĂźller, FAO Assistant Director-General.

"There are strong synergies between climate change mitigation, adaptation and food security that will be captured, if we do this right."

The FAO policy brief being released in December 2009 calls for funding to help "vulnerable" developing nations respond "more comprehensively to the dual challenges of climate change and food security."

The brief said such support should reward actions aimed at reducing

emissions and adapting to climate change, while also encouraging agricultural development and improved food security.

The policy brief also suggested exploring synergies between Official Development Assistance (ODA) and new, additional climate funding. Ă?

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Addressing Climate Change and Food Security Together

Í

Part of the solution Food production will have to increase by 70 percent to feed an additional 2.3 billion people by 2050, FAO said. Climate change threatens agricultural production through higher temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns, and increased occurrences of droughts and floods, especially in areas that are already prone to climate-related disasters.

Poorest regions with the highest levels of chronic hunger are likely to be among the worst affected by climate change, "Agriculture offers readily avai-

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lable and cost-effective options for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, and can start to do so now," Müller said. "And climate financing mechanisms targeting agriculture could speed up efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change, while helping to reduce hunger and poverty.”

tion agriculture capture carbon and store it in soils. These include no/low tillage, utilizing residues for composting or mulching, use of perennial crops to cover soil, re-seeding or improving grazing management on grasslands and agro- forestry, which combines crops and trees.

In contrast, he added, some other sectors may well require investments in expensive technologies and new, longterm research.

The idea, said Müller, is to disturb the soil as little as possible, keep it covered and mix and rotate crops, so that carbon is taken out of the atmosphere and parked in soils and vegetation.

Nearly 90 percent of agriculture's potential to reduce or remove emissions

Certain farming practices, including those used by organic and conserva-

Global Warming Climate change threatens agricultural production through higher temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns, and increased occurrences of droughts and floods, especially in areas that are already prone to climate-related disasters.

from the atmosphere comes from such practices.

Beyond soil carbon sequestration, more efficient fertilizer use and management of livestock systems are also promising options that enhance emission removals and reductions.

Many of these activities may also reduce deforestation and forest degradation due to their associated productivity gains, which means more food can be produced without expansion of agriculture into forests.

FAO stressed that improved farming

practices required for climate change mitigation are often the same as those needed to increase productivity, food security and adaptation, including the restoration of degraded agricultural lands, integrated nutrient and soil management and agro-forestry.

The way forward In addition to calling for funds to be channeled into mitigation and adaptation schemes for agriculture, FAO believes a work programme on agriculture, within the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice could build confidence at the

international level around agriculture's role in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Country-led pilot projects could demonstrate how synergies across climate change mitigation, adaptation and food security might be exploited, while building capacity and confidence in the use of technologies, financing mechanisms and methodologies needed to do this.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT: www.fao.org 19

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By Federico NIGLIA

GERMANY: THE RISE OF THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL POWER 20

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Germany: the Rise of the New Environmental Power

T

he outcome of the last UN conference on climate has been disappointing. Apart from the Chinese decision to allow tracking its emissions’ cuts, no other significant achievements have been reached.

Probably, at Copenhagen the most unsatisfied European government was the German one. This should not be surprising: in the last years Germany has asserted its own primacy within the EU on the environmental front.

The government of Berlin is the main advocate of the transformation of the EU into the most advanced area worldwide, not only for the environ-

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mental protection, but also for the implementation of green technologies.

The most surprising evidence is in the speed of the German conversion to ecology. Twenty years ago, Germany was still carrying out the process of reunification, implementing series of reforms in order to harmonise two parts of a country divided for more than forty years. On the environmental point of view the situation was similar to other European countries: in the eastern part, moreover, there was a significant predominance of high-polluting industries.

From that moment on, Germany implemented a process of reconversion of its economy and society in order to make

them more consistent with the environmental ambition. As a result, the emission of greenhouse gases was reduced by 18% between 1990 and 2005.

According to the main literature existing on this issue, such a significant result is based on the joint action of economic, suasive and legislative instruments. Assuasive instruments, like eco-labeling, eco-auditing and environmental agreements, together with the economic ones, like subsidies and environmental tax, have stimulated the voluntary (and conscious) adaptation of the German society and economic actors to the new vision.

Global Warming

This success is also rooted in the specific dynamics of the German political system. A strict connection between the ecologist/environmentalist interests and the political sphere was established from the seventies onward.

The environmental groups sought political and institutional representation: since 1979, when the Green party obtained a seat in the parliament of Bremen, environmental issues broke into the political debate of the Federal Republic and later of the reunified Germany.

Both Christian-democratic and Socialdemocratic governments have conside-

red, in the last years, the environmental issue as one of the main priorities of the country. During the nineties the interest for the environmental issues rose further on, partially as a consequence of the general elections of 1998, which led to the building of the coalition between the Greens and the Social-democrats.

Environmental policy recorded a leap forward during the Gerhard Schröder’s chancellorship: a new economy was created oriented to the production and the development of eco-friendly goods, services and activities. At the beginning of the new millennium the policies for the production of non polluting energies have been further more streng-

thened, supporting the production of electricity with renewable sources. The result, after 10 years from the implementation of the plan, is that the quantity of clean electricity has doubled.

Today the challenge not only involves the substitution of the polluting energy sources with other less polluting energies but also and especially the coordination between the different sources of green energy. The ‘integrated energy systems’ consists of the synergy among green-energy producers (wind-power, solar energy but also derivate of natural gas) and allows to provide stable energy supply independently by weather conditions and more stable prices.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Germany: the Rise of the New Environmental Power

Environment and energy represent a continuously increasing field of action of the German international activity.

In this way the German government demonstrates to be among the most receptive governments to the issues related to globalisation.

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Angela Merkel, in agreement with the liberals of FDP, aims to remark the discontinuity with the previous environmental policies defined as ‘ideological’. Doing this, the government has no intention to damage the leadership gained by Germany in environmental technologies on the international scale.

It is not a case that the global economic and financial crisis did not result in Germany – as it happened in many other countries – in the weakening of the environmental commitment.

Facing the crisis the chancellor took the occasion to re-launch the stimulus plan on green economy and the production of renewable sources of energy.

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In conclusion, it should also be underlined that environmental policies represent a pillar of the German foreign policy. Environment and energy represent a continuously increasing field of action of the German international activity. In this way the German government demonstrates to be among the most receptive governments to the issues related to globalisation.

Such attitude has brought the German government to assume a very clear and advanced position on climate change, global warming and sustainable development. Doing this, Germany has often been in opposition to a number of emerging powers but also to such EU members that are more cautious

on this topic. This, however, does not exclude that Germany could represent a model also for the emerging powers within the international community.

There is strong evidence of the economic and political benefits resulting from the adoption of a virtuous model of ‘environmental power’. New emerging powers, which are more and more integrated in the global economy, are expected to take a more effective responsibility also in the governance of the international community. In this perspective, the German model may be more attractive than others.

Federico Niglia is a Senior Research Fellow at the instituto Affari Internazionali Rome.

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CARBON OFFSETTING HIGH QUALITY CLIMATE PROTECTION

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Global Warming limate change is a growing problem which has risen a lot awareness in the last few years: It’s a concern, that in the mean time, almost everyone has in mind and people are willing to contribute in different ways to reduce climate change. As an individual person or a company, one way to engage in climate protection is to cooperate with a climate protection organization and invest in its carbon offset projects. Over the years, innumerable such players, profit or non-profit, have been established.

This is the point of time, where quality and reliability of the different foundations start to matter.

C

“myclimate” Concerning quality, the Swiss nonprofit foundation myclimate, founded in 2002 enjoys a good reputation.

Independent studies regularly rate myclimate among the top offset providers of the world: As a leading supplier for voluntary carbon offsetting worldwide myclimate´s carbon offset projects meet the highest international standards (CDM, Gold Standard) and – aside from reducing greenhouse gas emissions – contribute to sustainable development in the project region. One of the myclimate projects has been the first CDM project worldwide to generate emission reductions with the Gold Standard label. myclimate guarantees that at least 80% of the offsetting revenues are directly invested into the carbon offsetting projects.

Project Biomass briquettes and efficient cookers in Uttarakhand, India. Women from the local village are collecting needles of trees to make biomass briquettes.

The high credibility of the organization and the expertise of its employees are reflected in the fast growing customer base, such as Swiss International Airlines, Tui, Lufthansa, Seat, Virgin Atlantic, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and many others.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Carbon Offsetting High Quality Climate Protection

Project Efficient cookers in south-west Madagascar, Madagascan women prepare their food with solar cookers using the energy of the sun.

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Carbon neutral with “myclimate” Individuals can fly carbon neutral and offset their car and household emissions. For companies myclimate offers tailored solutions.

They can offset parts of their business emissions, like emissions of a product, or the whole company’s emission. “myclimate” calculates the emissions, advises its customers concerning the ideal carbon offsetting strategy and supports them in their communication activities of their engagement.

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Emissions which can’t be avoided are offset in well-chosen projects in developing and emerging countries as well as in Europe and New Zealand. myclimate’s funding makes it possible to use renewable energies and energy efficient technologies instead of inefficient fossil fuel technology. By this, emissions are reduced in a sustainable and measurable way and the projects contribute to global climate protection.

More than just carbon offsetting Besides carbon offsetting, climate education is another department of

myclimate which serves clients with capacity building, but also promotes the public dialogue on climate protection, e.g. with exhibitions, interactive teaching in schools as well as with public discussions.

The third core competence of myclimate is the systematically analysis and calculation of clients’ emission profiles to deliver information for their resource management strategy.

With the results of the life cycle assessment, myclimate enables factbased high quality decision-making at corporate management level.

Global Warming

What Is A Carbon Offset?

Along with these services the Swiss foundation serves its clients with designing individual software for different fields and needs.

This wide repertoire of myclimate’s high quality climate protection services meets a broad range of different needs of different people and companies who want to help avoiding climate change and who are willing to take responsibility.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT: www.myclimate.org

A carbon offset is a financial instrument aimed at a reduction in Greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon offsets are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) and may represent six primary categories of greenhouse gases.One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases.

There are two markets for carbon offsets. In the larger, compliance market, companies, governments, or other entities buy carbon offsets in order to comply with emissions trading (caps) on the total amount of carbon dioxide they are allowed to emit. In 2006, about $5.5 billion of carbon offsets were purchased in the compliance market, representing about 1.6 billion metric tons of CO2e reductions.

In the much smaller, voluntary market, individuals, companies, or governments purchase carbon offsets to mitigate their own greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electricity use, and other sources.

For example, an individual might purchase carbon offsets to compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions caused by personal air travel. Many companies offer carbon offsets as an up-sell during the sales process so that customers can mitigate the emissions related with their product or service purchase (such as offsetting emissions related to a vacation flight, car rental, hotel stay, consumer good, etc). In 2008, about $705 million of carbon offsets were purchased in the voluntary market, representing about 123.4 million metric tons of CO2e reductions Offsets are typically achieved through financial support of projects that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in the short- or long-term.

The most common project type is renewable energy, such as wind farms, biomass energy, or hydroelectric dams. Others include energy efficiency projects, the destruction of industrial pollutants or agricultural byproducts, destruction of landfill methane, and forestry projects. Some of the most popular carbon offset projects from a corporate perspective are energy efficiency and wind turbine projects.

Carbon offsetting has gained some appeal and momentum mainly among consumers in western countries who have become aware and concerned about the potentially negative environmental effects of energy-intensive lifestyles and economies. The Kyoto Protocol has sanctioned offsets as a way for governments and private companies to earn carbon credits which can be traded on a marketplace. The protocol established the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which validates and measures projects to ensure they produce authentic benefits and are genuinely "additional" activities that would not otherwise have been undertaken. Organizations that are unable to meet their emissions quota can offset their emissions by buying CDM-approved Certified Emissions Reductions.

Offsets may be cheaper or more convenient alternatives to reducing one's own fossil-fuel consumption. However, some critics object to carbon offsets, and question the benefits of certain types of offsets Offsets are viewed as an important policy tool to maintain stable economies.

One of the hidden dangers of climate change policy is unequal prices of carbon in the economy, which can cause economic collateral damage if production flows to regions or industries that have a lower price of carbon - unless carbon can be purchased from that area, which offsets effectively permit, equalizing the price.

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Global Warming

IT'S TIME FOR ACTION

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

It's time for action

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or the year 2010, G is launching the campaign CO2010 to rebalance the equation of Lebanon’s environment. The climate’s current state is quite alarming and has drawn the attention of the world’s most influential leaders. As a result, G has set into motion a strategy starting by the year 2010 to address Climate change in Lebanon.

Addressing Climate Change Climate change is inevitable! Global warming has become perhaps the most complicated issue facing world leaders.

We could stand by and watch the worst yet to come, or we could take a firm stand to protect our planet. To do so, we need to replace fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy sources significantly decreasing the amount of CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere.

Climate change’s impact is not limited to a certain city or country or region not even to a continent; it is in fact a global dilemma. There have been numerous attempts to curb the increase of CO2 emission worldwide, as the current emission level is considered as over the limit; yet, not in Lebanon.

Even with the drought, desertification, reduction in agricultural production and extreme weather events, awareness and actions are still limited.

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100,000 tons less CO2 While so many emission reduction measures exist, tree planting is a win-win solution as people benefit from them in so many different ways. They could play a significant part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in our country.

CO2010 Campaign plans to reduce Lebanon’s carbon emissions by 100,000 tons. It is a nationwide campaign, under the patronage of the Minister of Environment. All Lebanese can be involved in this event whether they are businessmen or workers or students or farmers.

If an extra 100,000 trees are planted in Lebanon over the next year, it will lock up 100,000 tons of Lebanon’s predicted gas emissions by the end of 2010. This is why CO2010 is being launched today.

This campaign’s main goal is to reduce 100,000 tons of CO2 in 2010 by planting 100,000 fruit trees by bringing 15,000,000,000 $ profit to farmers.

Olive Trees: Olive trees are evergreen plants native to the Mediterranean, Asia and parts of Africa. They are the kind of trees that can live for a very long period of time.

Olive trees’ trunks are very hard. Also, they are drought-, disease-, and fire-resistant. In addition, their root system is very robust and is capable of regenerating the tree even if the above-ground structure is destroyed.

Apple Trees: Apple trees are one of the most widely cultivated fruits tree. They are usually small and deciduous. Their height ranges between 3 and 12 meters, with a broad, often densely twiggy crown.

Apple trees contribute significantly to lowering the atmospheric quantities of carbon dioxide where a mature apple tree can reduce up to 300 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Almond trees: PLANTING TREES Trees and carbon credits are becoming the daily deals of companies and establishments. This is why CO2010 highlighted the top native trees that will assist in getting carbon credits and in offsetting the CO2 emissions for the coming year. The same systems used in Europe, USA and Africa will be adopted on the Lebanese territory to keep up with the global mission to reduce the overall CO2 emissions.

Almond trees are small trees growing 4 to 10 meters in height. They are a species of tree native to the Middle East.

Globally, the almond industry is working to develop almond-specific data with research related to greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in almond production. Additional efforts are being put through the Copenhagen conference to give carbon credits for growing almond trees.

Global Warming Cherry trees: Cherry trees are flowering trees that bear fruit. They have a very short growing season and can grow in most temperate latitudes. The peak season for cherries is in the summer. Cherry trees are being planted as saplings and harvested according to standard organic principles, the method that will increase the CO2 offsetting and fasten the tree’s growing process..

Pear Trees: The pear is a fruit tree of genus Pyrus and also the name of the tree’s edible fruit. Pear trees are being used around the world now as a model of true ecotourism. Not only do these trees help in reducing CO2 emissions, but they also play a very important role in cooling the air and bringing down the heat.

Apricot Trees: It is a small tree, 8–12 m tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter and a dense, spreading canopy. In France, Armenia and many other countries in Europe, apricot trees are playing a major role in reforestation aiming at CO2 reduction. Apricot trees grow fast, and can be considered native to almost any country. Not only that, but also, apricot trees carry a large return of fruit for the farmers, and as well needs adequate water and heights.

G is a Lebanese green consulting and carbon offsetting firm committed primarily to provide environmental consultancy and effective solutions for businesses and organizations in order to promote a healthier environment, cleaner earth, and a more sustainable future.

It is genuinely targeted towards protecting our planet by trimming down climate change threats, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting high-quality carbon offsetting solutions. Such solutions include reforestation programs, green buildings, recycling and reduction of paper use, effective water use, sound environmental legislations and public outreach to individuals and governments at large.

Carbon Neutral: Carbon Neutral is a comprehensive carbon strategy which involves a rigorous assessment of the businesses direct and indirect carbon emissions. It also engages in means to avoid and reduce these emissions. Finally, this strategy seeks methods and recommendations for the emissions that cannot be reduced further, offsetting them by investing in emission reduction projects which have prevented or removed an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide elsewhere.

Reforestation One of the main greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide (CO2). As trees grow they absorb CO2 from the air. When the wood dies the CO2 is returned to the air.

Forest clearance and wood burning is increasing the latter half of the process, adding to the CO2 in the atmosphere. Deforestation is now out of control.

The loss of the forests also means that there are fewer trees to absorb CO2.

That is why G has set tree-planting projects that are related to local sustainability and alleviation of poverty. To become Carbon-Neutral, planting trees is recognized as a potential offsetting method. G Reforestation strategy first step includes assessing the quantity of carbon emissions that your business is causing. Our auditors will calculate the amount of trees you need to plant in order to offset your carbon footprints.

Legislation: In Lebanon there has been a general discussion about the government’s environmental policies and how our lifestyle is leading to climate change. G is committed to update the current Lebanese environmental laws that have not been amended since the year 1943 by promoting new regulations that can encourage sustainable development. We are also committed to lobby the Parliament to decrease taxes for companies who are applying environmental standards.

Green Building: Going green is a social movement that resulted from increased awareness and recognition of the danger our planet was put in. G is committed to address Global Warming hazards by encouraging organizations and businesses to respond to the problem by building Green Buildings. G is the only NGO in Lebanon that provides LEED Green Building Rating Systems consultation. As a sustainability and green building consulting firm, G guides high aspiration organizations that want to use sustainability as a competitive driver. G has partnered with U.S. based company ECS (Environmental Consulting Services) that was founded in 1995. They offer a full spectrum of professional services to industrial, commercial, and governmental clients. Their team consists of a wide range of environmental consulting professionals, registered engineers, scientists, geologists, CIS analysts, LEED APs. 33

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THE 1

What's the best way to reduce CO2 emissions from a car?

a) Buy a car with a catalytic converter (converts gases into less harmful substance) b) Drive less and buy a more fuelefficient car c) Drive very slowly

2

What percentage of household water use does the bathroom account for?

a) 10-15% b) 30-35% c) 70-75%

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QUIZ

3

5

A) 1.35 million B) 10.8 million C) 22.7 million

A) The innermost portion of the storm which is calm with little or no wind B) The centre of the storm C) The area with the most concentrated level of activity or intensity

How many barrels of petroleum were consumed per day in the U.S. in 2009?

4

Which of the following factors have an effect on UV (ultraviolet ray) levels?

A) Clouds B) The ozone layer C) Snow D) All of the above

What is the "eye" of a hurricane?

6

Switching from a large SUV (sport utility vehicle) to a compact car can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by roughly: A) 30 kilograms per year B) 300 kilograms per year C) 3,000 kilograms (3 tonnes) per year

ANSWERS ON PAGE 128

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SOLARIMPULSE INVENTING THE FUTURE:

AROUND THE WORLD IN A SOLAR AIRPLANE

«Meeting a challenge of this magnitude is possible only by taking maximum advantage of solar energy.

Every watt counts, and we are looking to track down every way we can save energy.

Only the most advanced solutions, most of them never applied before, will permit this.

We believe we have found them by combining the experience and summing the potential of every team member.»

André Borschberg

O

n December 3, 2009 the Solar Impulse HB SIA, the first airplane designed to fly day and night without fuel, left the ground for the first time.

The results of the ground tests conducted these last few weeks to verify numerous parameters (the prototype’s controllability, acceleration, braking paths and, engine power) had been overwhelming positive, thereby leading the team to give

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the go ahead to Markus Scherdel, the test pilot, to take the prototype up to its take off speed.

As the aircraft gently took up speed, the huge wing of the Solar Impulse gradually rose into the air under intense admiration of the project promoters, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. After some 350 meters of flight at an altitude of one meter,, the prototype graciously landed on the centre of the runway, triggering

a frenzied applause from the team.

On the one hand I find it terrific to see a dream come true. For over ten years now, I have dreamt of a solar aircraft capable of flying day and night without fuel and promoting renewable energy. Today, our plane took off and was airborne for the very first time. This is an unbelievable and unforgettable moment! On the other hand, I remain humble in the face of the difficult journey still to be accomplished – it’s a long way

Energy der and CEO of Solar Impulse. At this stage the solar panels have not yet been connected. With the positive conclusion of this initial “flea hop”, the Solar Impulse HB SIA will now be dismantled and transported to the airfield at Payerne (VD). Starting in early 2010 onwards, the aircraft will be making its first solar test flights, gradually increasing flight duration until it makes its first night flight using solar energy

NIGHT FLYING THANKS TO THE SUN: THE ZERO FUEL AIRPLANE

Two men, both pioneers and innovators, both pilots, are the driving force behind Solar Impulse: Bertrand Piccard, psychiatrist and aeronaut, who made the first non-stop round-theworld balloon flight, is the initiator and chairman.

André Borschberg, an engineer and graduate in management science, trained as a fighter pilot and a professional airplane and helicopter pilot, is the CEO. The former’s avant-gardist vision and the latter’s entrepreneurial experience are an ideal combination.

Trajectory

Vision

Solar Impulse continues a long tradition of exploration, adventure and scientific development. By initiating this challenge, Bertrand Piccard is continuing his family’s tradition of adventure, from the exploration of the stratosphere and the ocean depths to his own round-the-world balloon flight. Joining him in this adventure is a team headed by André Borschberg, whose competence guarantees the success of the project, and partners who are also keen to invent the future. The challenges of our world can only be met by those with a pioneering spirit who go looking for new solutions outside our current habits and certainties.

Solar Impulse believes in the force of symbols. By writing a new page of aviation history with solar energy, by way of a round-theworld flight without fuel or pollution, Solar impulse is determined to actively promote the cause of renewable energies and the energy efficiency that new technologies are offering. The Solar Impulse initiative is both scientific, with all the research it implies, and philosophical, by virtue of its concern to stir society in order to be sparing of our planet’s energy resources.

An epic in stages

between these initial tests and a circumnavigation of the world”, commented Bertrand Piccard, initiator and President of Solar Impulse.

This is the culmination of 6 years of intense work by a very experienced team of professionals! This first “flea hop” successfully completes the first phase of Solar Impulse, confirming our technical choices. We are now ready to start the next phase – the actual flight tests, said Andre Borschberg, co foun-

A tandem at the controls

After 6 years from the first concept to the finished prototype, the HB-SIA solar aircraft will need to be put through its paces, before starting out on its 36 hour flight, which is a major objective of the project. From fleahops to circuits, several months will be needed before undertaking the first night flight.

A second aircraft will then be built and, starting in 2012, will retrace, using solar energy, some of the great firsts in the history of flight. After the crossings of the USA and the Atlantic, the culminating point will be the tour of the world in five stages.

Challenge To produce an aircraft which will take off and fly, under its own power, both day and night, entirely propelled by solar energy, is an unachievable challenge without drastically reducing energy consumption. Solar Impulse’s 50 engineers and technicians, supported by a hundred or so experts and advisers, have had to apply totally new aeronautical solutions. Whilst not the first solar aircraft project, Solar Impulse is certainly the most ambitious: the HB-SIA prototype should be the first aircraft to come close to perpetual flight.

AIRPLANE With the giant wingspan of an Airbus A340 and its proportionally miniscule weight, the HB-SIA prototype presents construction and aerodynamic fea- Í 37

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Solarimpulse Inventing the Future Around the World in a Solar Airplane

Ă?

tures never before encountered. Carbon fibre structure, propulsion chain, flight domain and instrumentation, everything has been rethought and designed to save energy, resist high altitude factors hostile to both materials and pilot, and to combine the constraints of weight with the imperatives of resistance.

Tests and virtual flights Calculations, tests and simulations are an integral part of each step of the construction process. Wing charge and vibration tests have served to fine-tune the models developed by the engineers, and move forward 38

step by step in a totally unknown field. To control an aircraft with such totally new features, the pilots are having to adapt to a flight behaviour very different to that of other aircraft types. A simulator has been specially developed to familiarize them with the aerodynamics and flight mechanics of the HB-SIA. The pilots’ capability has already been tested during a 25 hour virtual flight in the tiny 1.3m3 cockpit.

Energy capturing and storage The 11,628 monocrystalline silicon cells, each 150 microns thick, have

been selected for their lightness, flexibility and efficiency. At 22%, their energy efficiency could have been higher, but the additional weight would have penalized the aircraft during night flight.

In this, the most critical stage, the major constraint of the project is storing energy in the lithium polymer batteries. At the present stage, the maximum energy density is 220 Wh/kg. The accumulators needed for night flight weigh 400 kg, equal to Âź of the total weight of the aircraft. Success is therefore possible only by maximizing aerodynamic

Energy

Technical data sheet Wingspan 63.40 m, Length 21.85 m, Height 6.40 m.

Motor power 4 x 10 HP electric engines Solar cells 11,628 (10,748 on the wing, 880 on the horizontal stabilizer) Average flying speed 70 km/h, Maximum altitude 8,500 m (27,900 ft) Weight 1,600 kg, Take-off speed 35 km/h

performance and optimizing the energy chain.

profile these two layers and give the body its aerodynamic shape.

Structure and materials

Propulsion system

Attaining a 63.40 m wingspan with the necessary rigidity, lightness and flight controllability and with just 1,600 kg take-off weight is a challenge that has never before been met in aeronautics.

Solar Impulse is built round a carbon fibre-honeycomb composite using a sandwich structure. The upper wing surface is covered with a skin of encapsulated solar cells, and the undersides of the wings with a high resistance flexible film. 120 carbon fibre ribs placed at 50 cm intervals

Beneath the wings are four gondolas, each containing a 10 HP motor, a lithium polymer battery set and a management system controlling charge/discharge and temperature. The thermal insulation has been designed to conserve the heat radiated by the batteries and to keep them functioning despite the 40°C encountered at 8,500 metres.

Each engine is fitted with a reducer that limits the rotation of each 3.5 metre diameter, twin-bladed propeller within the range of 200-4,000 rpm.

Energy resources At midday, each m² of land surface receives the equivalent of 1,000 watts, or 1.3 horsepower of light power. Over 24 hours this averages out at just 250 W/m². With 200m² of photovoltaic cells and 12% total efficiency of the propulsion chain, the aircraft‘s engines achieve on average just 8 HP or 6 KW – roughly the amount of power the Wright brothers had available to them in 1903 when they made their first powered flight. And it is with this energy, optimized from the solar panel to the propeller by the efforts of an entire team, that Solar Impulse is striving to fly day and night without fuel!

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PLAYING IN THE FUTURE The Anter Park in Tuscany is the first European example of a theme park dedicated to Renewable Energies. It is a path towards a sustainable future available to families, children and students as well as to the neighbooring university which will be in charge of its scientific update.

R

enewable energies are not a game, but may become so. They can become a ludic and fun way to reach an important goal, through teaching to young people the respect of the environment and to become more knowledgeable of new sources of energy. In this perspective, Anter Park is aiming to become the first park in Europe and the main center for teaching renewable energies in a ludic way.

The playful learning park project, developed by Anter and signed by Michelangelo Brachi, has already taken its model drawn by Elena Danti and Simona D'Andrea it has already been submitted to the city of Prato, Tuscany where the park should be built. Loca-

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ted near the center of natural sciences and the Galceti Park it will be perfectly integrated to the greenery and the nature of the region. Anter Park’s goal is to spread, especially among the youngest generations, a new awareness of all energies.

The first objective is to create an attraction park made of small power plants capable of generating energy from different energy sources that will not cause any environmental impact on the climate, but be rather harmonized and naturally integrated with the environment.

Visiting the park would mean making a path towards the sustainable future of

energies of the XXIst century. Throughout the path the kids, and their parents, will find several examples of renewable energy sources: a photovoltaic system, a thermal top of two bioclimatic greenhouses, a small wind turbine, a transparent hydroelectric mill, a geyser field and a volcano reconstruction to explain geothermal energy.

To the entire structure an auditorium will be added, which will have a sitting capacity for 100 attendees. While Saturdays and Sundays will be open to families the teaching structure will be reserved to schools' visits during the week. The Anter Park should not only be seen as a playground for children and teenagers, but rather as the labo-

Energy

ratory place for current advanced technologies; an area of research and study empowered by the University of Prato. Its president, Professor Maurizio Fiorava, presented the project, and confirmed his university role in the renewable energies field.

The Anter Park will be the first step of a more ambitious plan to launch a cultural renaissance of the Prato region, by creating new job opportunities, and creating “a city of sciences” where the former Banci exhibit center use to be.

The track to be followed is similar to a successful project which has already been achieved in the city of Naples: a complex system composed by an inter-

active science museum, an area dedicated to training, territorial development, and to the creation of new entrepreneurship, this in addition to a number of new areas dedicated to events, congresses and conferences.

“The city administration, said the vice mayor and environment councilor Goffredo Borchi, watches with great interest the drafts of Anter Park which fits perfectly into the city’s sustainable and durable development plan which recommends the use of renewable energies and encourages businesses and consumers to innovate and use ecological materials in order to steer the market in the recommended direction.”

“The educational park designed by Anter, said Maurizio Fioravanti president of the University of Prato, is tightly in accordance to the University’s goal to spread a better knowledge of the new renewable energy sources and to encourage the use of those energies. By partnering with the Anter Park the Prato university will contribute in this way to the environmental education of the younger generations and ultimately to contribute to qualify the Town of Prato as the headquarter of research and teaching excellence in the environmental field.”

Courtesy of Anter

Park

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.anter.info 41

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By Steffen LEHMANN

THE FUTURE IS GREEN A Conversation between two German Architects in Sydney

S

(photos: Cida de Aragon, 2009)

ince the foundation of his practice Ingenhoven Architekten in 1985, Christoph Ingenhoven (born 1960, as son of an architect) is an advocate of sustainable design and lowenergy architecture. He is considered Germany’s most successful architect of his generation and a leader in the application of sustainable design concepts using an ecological approach.

Conversation between Christoph Ingenhoven and Steffen Lehmann Main themes that stand at the centre are: future work environments, ecology, mobility, and ning the design competition for a new rope, which Ingenhoven designed in urban landscapes. Conceptual stratehigh rise tower in Sydney’s central bu1991 and completed in 1997, was one of gies and realization of innovative sosiness district in 2006, his new ‘Space’ the first ecologically orientated highlutions, an integrated approach and high rise office tower (to be completed rise buildings that – with its double fadedication to optimize and implein 2011; ground breaking was in May çade technology – allows each floor to ment it on all levels, is visible. It is ob2009) and his recent involvement with be naturally ventilated. vious that Ingenhoven is influenced the urban and architectural design of by the work of other modern German the Barangaroo waterfront develop The Lufthansa Headquarters at architects, such as Egon Eiermann, ment, brings him to Australia on a reFrankfurt Airport completed in Frei Otto, Thomas Herzog, and Guengular basis. The Australian city will 2006, which requires only one-third ther Behnisch, which understood so gain a prominent addition to its skyof the energy of a conventional ofwell the relationship and tension betline with this new 6-star Green Star fice building. ween architecture and engineering. rated office tower on Bligh Street.

The new Main Station in Stuttgart, Christoph Ingenhoven is involved in to be built over the next ten years, Other major works include: projects all over the world and is in The RWE Tower, a cylindrical high which was awarded the Gold Global creasingly involved in the design of Holcim Award in 2006 for its sustairise headquarters in Essen, for one of major buildings in Australia. After winnable design. As carbon-free and zero the biggest energy suppliers in Eu-

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Sustainable Development energy railway station, it will require no heating, cooling or mechanical ventilation (described as ‘the 21st century underground version of a 19th century railway cathedral’; Walsh, 2008).

German architect, Steffen Lehmann, who holds the Chair at the University of Newcastle (NSW) and the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Urban Design for Asia and the Pacific, met with Christoph Ingenhoven in Sydney in 2009, to discuss the future of green design. Here are excerpts from their conversation.

Public space, and the city as a whole, are always much more important than a single building.

If we think about sustainability as a necessity, it’s still very complex but not impossible, to build city districts entirely without CO2 emissions and zero waste to landfill. Mixed-use is hereby one of the most important aspects, because it is a prerequisite for achieving social sustainability.

Christoph Ingenhoven

> Steffen Lehmann (SL) Christoph, at the beginning I would like to talk with you about the challenges of designing sustainability at an urban scale – let’s say for the Barangaroo waterfront development in Sydney, but also more generally. I feel we have moved on from the scale of the individual building or from the sophisticated façade solution, to a broader scale that deals with the entire city. Discussing sustainability on the scale of districts and neighbourhoods, rather than on the eco-facade scale, means that we can focus on potential strategies that you might bring to Sydney projects in the light of the huge challenges we are facing.

For instance: How can we best address the broader requirements for the necessary transformation of cities and their energy landscape?

> Christoph Ingenhoven (CI) Public space, and the city as a whole, are always much more important than a single building. If we think about sustainability as a necessity, it’s still very complex but not impossible, to build city districts entirely without CO2 emissions and zero waste to landfill. Mixed-use is hereby one of the most important aspects, because it is a prerequisite for achieving social sustainability. For example, at the new university campus in Dublin,

which we are currently planning, we are incorporating a series of existing buildings in the master plan. New campus structures will have large sophisticated roof shells with buildingintegrated photovoltaic panels and wind turbines. These buildings will provide more energy than the campus will need to operate.

the city centre. Efficient public transport will play a major role in this transformation process.

For Barangaroo, we developed the idea of ‘energy islands’, where much of the required energy is generated locally onsite, or at least as close-by as possible, using solar-PV and wind turbines along the harbour.

The idea of autonomous energy production with small units onsite is very interesting, and we also propose to reuse an existing wharf building that is already there.

Our concept for Barangaroo hopes to extend the CBD by improving and complementing the setting, and reduce the energy needed for this new district by having the right volume, exposure, façade and, of course, by having the right systems in place. A better life-cycle and potential reuse, allowing for changes of structures in future, means more flexibility.

Barangaroo is Sydney’s great chance to be one of the sustainable 21st century cities.

> SL: What exactly is your involvement with the Barangaroo waterfront development in Sydney?

- CI: We have been invited to be part of a large international team, with JPW and landscape architect Peter Walker, Leighton Properties, MIRVAC and Macquarie Bank, and we are competing here with the team of Richard Rogers. I see the Barangaroo project as Sydney’s last chance to significantly expand and transform its CBD through genuinely mixed-use sustainable strategies. Sydney will need to keep up with changes to stay competitive with other cities such as Singapore or Shanghai. At the same time, Sydney needs a very good, longterm plan which improves its sustainability performance. The city must continue to evolve in order to remain competitive, by integrating density in commercial and living spaces, bringing people back to live in

> SL: A lot of your design work is research-led and based on in-house knowledge that you have built up from one project to the next, an aspect not dissimilar to the practices of Norman Foster or Renzo Piano, where we can find technologically focused details, with a constantly expanding knowledge base that is nurtured inside the office, for instance in the fields of prefabrication and façade technology. One project builds on the previous one. Given that you are now involved in projects from Osaka to Sydney to Luxemburg, how do you feel about exporting this German know-how globally?

- CI: It seems to me natural to export this know-how. I think German architecture has been very committed to green buildings for a long time, and this has presumably something to do what others call ‘German angst’, which

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Ingenhoven’s new 6-star Green Star rated office tower on Bligh Street in Sydney.

Façade details

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could also be described as being scared about the environmental pollution and destruction, health issues and security problems, which we can see everywhere today. This development started around 25 years ago, but it is more than just a question of technology or detail – it has grown to a unique approach and attitude. I do not think it is possible to export the solution, but it is possible to bring a philosophical approach and commitment to another place, never the solution as such. The final solution emerges from climatic considerations and the local contextual circumstances, which in every project need to be carefully analyzed at the beginning.

> SL: Sustainable design is always about holistic approaches, about seeing things systemically and with regard to all the connections – and implications – of what we do, exploring and understanding the variety of solutions that are usually available to any problem. You frequently use large 44

glass panels to achieve transparency in your designs, even in hot and humid climates such as Singapore or Osaka.

Wouldn’t it be more helpful to use prefabricated concrete panels to reduce the amount of heat gain?

There are many ways to avoid heat gain. One is by choosing appropriate materials and surfaces, but a glass tower might lack thermal mass. I know that you do not use glass wherever you build, but there is clearly a desire to build transparency, similar to the early modernists. Where does this urge come from?

- CI: This desire for transparency has to do with the human experience.

Humans used to live constantly outside before we started to settle, and for me, this has something to do with an instinctive wish to live outdoors, directly experiencing the change of seasons and sunlight. Yes, transparency is difficult to achieve, because it’s a question of energy saving too, but even in a building like the Osaka tower, if you calculate the

amount of glass, it’s less than 50 per cent, because you have the metal cladding and core areas which are closed. We are always restricted by orientation and views, trying to keep out the steep summer sun with sophisticated sun shading devices.

For instance, at the Bligh Street tower, the naturally-ventilated atrium is completely oriented to the south, shielded from the sun. To ensure energy-efficiency, we provide a double-skin façade with efficient sun shading in the space between.

I don’t want to be ideological about the question of materials and transparency. We have done wooden facades and brick facades. For instance, the university building in Duesseldorf is nearly closed on the colder façade; only the sunny side is open, using passive design principles, and wide cantilevering roofs keep the summer sun away. The traditional house, with verandahs around them, is actually quite transparent too. If you think of the traditional examples

Sustainable Development in Singapore, these provide flexible envelopes.

Steffen Lehmann

> SL: So the double-skin façade is

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- CI: Maybe it’s more like the modern

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interpretation of a multi-layered window. I remember I was very impressed as a kid when I visited, with my father, an old house on Lake Geneva, an area which has a mild climate. An old villa there had shutters outside the window for security reasons, then the window itself, which they called a ‘winter window’, had an inner window, and in-between these two wooden framed windows was an inside shutter for glare control. In addition, they had two different layers of curtains on the inside one translucent and one for blacking-out.

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> SL: And you have only three!

- CI: Exactly! (laughs) But you see the technology is quite old. You can find it in vernacular architecture in the Alps, for instance at old farmhouses. These frequently have so-called ‘winter glasses’, and they just put these in as is necessary.

> SL: I want to talk with you about the question of density in urban design, and the idea of high rise. Does the notion of ‘green high rise tower’ actually exist, and can a high rise ever be truly green?

- CI: They have to be green! In future there will be no modern city without high rise. Many German cities are shrinking as population is in decline; they don’t need high rise buildings.

But globally, Asian cities are rapidly growing, and we find there they have hundreds, even thousands, of high rise buildings for working and living – just think of Hong Kong. We need high rise towers on the global scale. So, why shouldn’t we develop better high rise

This is essential reading for urban designers, architects, landscape architects and researchers/students in these disciplines around the world.

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models? The denser city is certainly the better city, but this doesn’t depend on high rise. Take, for example, Houston in the US, which has high rise but an appalling low overall density. It depends on the whole city scale. Sydney has an extremely low density and is one of the biggest energy consumers per capita.

On the opposite side, the city of Copenhagen, which has no high rise at all, is one of the best cities in terms of energyefficiency.

What does this all tell us? It’s not about high rise, but about other elements; for instance the extensive use of the automobile has become a major problem, and it is essential to understand the need for more public transport and mixeduse neighbourhoods. Even in the European context, a single person commuting every morning and evening alone in a car uses more energy as a 4-person family in a house. Sustainable urban design depends on the right mix of uses, the right densities, and efficient public transport. We can reduce the energy consumption of a city by combining living and working, and by reducing the distances in between and therefore reducing traffic.

> SL: But all buildings you design are large mono-functional ‘machines’. For instance, the Lufthansa Headquarters is a huge complex – and I know the brief has asked for this. Are there any new mixed-use typologies that are emerging? In this regard, what is, then, the future of Asian cities that are currently experiencing rapid urbanization?

- CI: The city needs to be planned in a way that reduces dependence on the automobile. The land use in the city and public transport needs to be intensified. We need to upgrade on all

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“Beauty is the logical consequence of necessity, logic, truthfulness, efficiency, simplicity and minimalization.”

Christoph Ingenhoven “Sustainable design is always about holistic approaches, about seeing things systemically and with regard to all the connections – and implications – of what we do, exploring and understanding the variety of solutions that are usually available to any problem.”

Steffen Lehmann

levels, from new bus-based routes, to light rail networks and cycle paths, if we seriously want to enhance mass transit. Of course, it’s still very difficult to do a real mixed-use high rise typology. The bigger a single building is, the more difficult and unsafe it becomes. To be honest, the better solution might be to have office high rises and residential towers side-byside, not mixed in one building.

Structure and service-wise it’s really difficult to do an environmentally sustainable project for both users. I would like to be realistic, it’s not about a single piece of architecture, it’s about the city’s overall structure and intensification of use.

> SL: Barcelona has been looked at as a robust model, where walking is very pleasant and well supported by a memorable public space network.

However, Barcelona has about double the population density per square kilometer compared to Sydney. We don’t build new cities from scratch. So, what should we do with the existing cities and existing building stock? And what should we do with the suburbs? A lot of new research indicates that compact 4- to

6-storey buildings are more likely to deliver social and environmental sustainability.

For instance, Thomas Herzog can be quoted to comment, that if there is a black-out, a 30-storey building is dysfunctional, but a 5-storey building can still be used.

- CI: We need to increase the density, compactness and intensity in the suburbs too, maybe even give some of it back to nature by demolishing inefficient suburbs. The city is about being able to deal with technology on many levels. A smaller grain of decisions and function is much better than large complexes. I agree that we need a clear step towards compactness. > SL: Many planners predict that the suburb is an outdated model and urban sprawl will soon outrun and stop by itself, as no one wants to live in isolated, far-out houses anymore.

- CI: This will require a shift in public thinking. At the moment, most of us live in the suburbs, which are still growing into the landscape, consuming precious landscape and agricultural land. But I agree, the ineffectiveness of low-density suburbs makes it an outdated model. Several developers, who used to develop suburbs, are now talking to us about inner-city residential buildings and ways to make their products green. To communicate good green design and to convince the client is not the problem. You can always explain things. The main problem is that the public is not yet really behind it.

There is a lot of public desire for sustainable architecture, but I often find that people are not really interested.

> SL: It seems today, a building’s sustainability rating correlates to its letability and therefore to its value on

Sustainable Development the real estate market. I would like to talk about the new tower in Bligh Street, a building hailed as a ‘benchmark building’ in integrative environmental design and construction in Australia, even before it’s completed. It’s an elliptical tower, similar to Harry Seidler’s cylindrical ‘Australia Square’ tower from 1961, which, in fact, is just next door. How can you ensure it is a truly a new generation of green high rise, without knowing the tenants and their fit-out plans?

- CI: The Bligh Street tower – also known as ‘Space’ – will feature a transparent elliptical shape, with 29 storeys and is around 140 metres high.

provided by the double-skin façade.

The building will capture great gap views to Circular Quay, and there is a whole range of things we have introduced that will make the project work well. For instance, the façade will allow us to have a 100 per cent shading solution and glare protection, with perforated internally adjustable blinds within the 600mm doubleskin cavity.

The sun protection is very efficient, while maintaining the views, so we can use non-tinted glass on the outer skin. This makes the building extremely transparent and will offer the user a different experience. The

ventilated outer skin is made of clear glass, which will ensure a highly transparent building. The treatment of water has also been made a priority: There’s the on-site black-water treatment of 25,000 litres of sewage and recycling.

In addition, we’re tapping into the city sewer and will be treating another 75,000 litres a day and using the water for landscape features, such as the green walls in the ground floor plaza, and also for toilet flushing. In addition, there is a gas-fired cogeneration plant in the basement, and solar tubes with absorption chillers are used for creating solar cooling. Í

It has a range of progressive environmental design features, including a double skin façade with potential for natural ventilation, an atrium and a range of energy and water initiatives.

Our work is based on innovative and holistic solutions in terms of energy, sun shading and thermal comfort. The use of regenerative energies and resources, like geothermal energy and rainwater, plays an important role in all our building concepts, and so does the intensive integration of daylight, as well natural cross-ventilation. With a minimum consumption of energy and resources we aim for the highest degree of user comfort.

Our first eco-high rise was the RWE Tower in Essen, twenty-five years ago, which was all about the building’s envelope. Since then, we have done over 40 buildings with dual glass skin facades, and the technology has greatly evolved over this time. The Bligh Street tower will be the first high-rise to receive a 6-Star certificate on the Green Star rating system.

This tower will be equipped with a real double-skin façade and will be ventilated by an atrium stretching the whole height of the tower. 50 percent of the ventilation will be

Prof. dr.

Steffen Lehmann Professor Dr. Steffen Lehmann holds the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Urban Development for Asia and the Pacific.

He is also the Chair, Professor of Architectural Design at the University of Newcastle (Australia), and Founding Director of the s_Lab Space Laboratory for Architectural Research and Design.

He has been building green buildings and realizing green urbanism since 1993, in Germany, London, Tokyo and Australia.

Over the last 15 years he has presented his research in green urbanism at over 250 conferences in 23 countries.

For further information: www.slab.com.au

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The tri-generation system uses gas and solar energy to generate cooling, heating and electricity. 500 sqm of roof mounted solar panels will provide energy to directly power the absorption chiller. Solar cooling is great new technology, invented in Germany. Free heating is provided by in-slab pipe work supplied with the heat that is normally rejected through the cooling towers.

A hybrid air conditioning system consists of chilled beam cooling for the façade and a low temperature variable air volume (VAV) system for the central zones.

Also in regard to construction methods, we will exceed the standards: The concrete which will be used contains a much higher percentage of recyclable materials than usual, site amenities are solar powered and 90 per cent of the rubble from demolition would be put back into the site.

> SL: Interestingly, the tower has a compact single shape. Frei Otto, the pioneer of light building, used to say that the human eye perceives those shapes, which are the product of a successful natural evolution towards the most optimal form, as especially beautiful. You can be quoted by saying that ‘beauty is the logical consequence of necessity, logic, truthfulness, efficiency, simplicity and minimalization’ (Ingenhoven, 2005).

It seems to me that the building’s highly refined elliptical shape – a distorted circle in plan – deals well with the diagonal shift that occurs here in the main city grid, the angle of Bligh Street and the curve along Bent Street.

In addition, the flattened shape maximizes harbour views form offices inside. I read that the tower’s elliptical plan is 12 per cent more efficient than a rectangular building in its façade to 48

“We need to increase the density, compactness and intensity in the suburbs too, maybe even give some of it back to nature by demolishing inefficient suburbs.”

balconies projecting into the atrium, creating social spaces and opportunities for interaction between tenancies. Sustainability has also a strong social component, and this part is about creating human public spaces and healthy working spaces.

> SL: What are the other challenges with this project, for instance, the ‘unknown’ user requirements?

Christoph Ingenhoven

floor area ratio – so it also delivers economic efficiency.

It’s interesting what you propose for the ground floor. The office floors are pushed up to provide an open public space on the ground floor, with the tower above. This publicly accessible urban undercroft will make it easier to relate to the street level and surrounding context, and allow more responsible city-making, I suppose.

- CI: Exactly. Maximizing the view, while eliminating solar gain. The atrium is hereby another key element of the building and it allows natural light to penetrate deep into the floor plate. Ventilating through the atrium also means that the offices stay noise protected.

It creates a social hub for office workers and has balconies that project into the atrium void to provide naturally ventilated break-out spaces, which is important when we think of the next generation workspace.

> CI: With rental office buildings there is often a disconnect with the end user of the offices, the unspecified tenant that will occupy the building. This has the disadvantage that we cannot communicate with the future users during the design phase, and need to make decisions based on assumptions.

We try to predict future tenant requirements and focus on indoor environmental qualities and energyefficiency. Of course, the performance of the design is also dependent on the fit-out and how the tenants will operate the building.

While the tower has the potential to be fully naturally ventilated, it depends on the final fit-out from the tenant.

Much of the cooling will be provided passively, by activating the thermal mass of the concrete slab. If realized to a high standard, our double-glazed façade concept will allow naturally ventilated floor space for high rise offices, something that is possible even in extreme climatic conditions – like during summer in Sydney, when the temperature outside can reach 35 degrees Celsius.

> SL: Christoph, thank you for the conversation.

What interests me first and foremost is how people will prefer to work in the next decade and how they envision an optimal work environment.

Each floor in this tower will have

CHRISTOPH INGENHOVEN’S WEB SITE: www.ingenhovenundpartner.de

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

MAGAZINE

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Aero Sekur is investing heavily in work in the fields of aeroponics and hydroponics to grow plants in a controlled, non soil-based environment.

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Sustainable Development

Aero Sekur’s greenhouse crop production solution creates energy via solar cells and bio mass created by the decomposition of the non edible parts of the plants.

CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE:

ONE SMALL STEP FOR AERO SEKUR A n Anglo-Italian company that specialises in safety systems and advanced flexible structures for the aerospace and defence markets is investing heavily in work in the fields of aeroponics and hydroponics to provide a solution for growing plants in a controlled, non soil-based environment. Additionally, through technology transfer, the company is working on developments to aid space life support through its bio plant regeneration initiative. In this article for World Environment Magazine, an insight is given into how Aero Sekur is

working with an international expert in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and how this knowledge is being combined with the company’s expertise in developing low launch weight inflatable structures to produce a lunar greenhouse. Details are also given of a terrestrial greenhouse – a parallel initiative playing a key part in a project entitled ‘BaoLab’ which, as a self-sustaining method of producing plants, offers major environmental advantages.

Before providing project details, an introduction to the science of hydroponics

is given and background provided of Aero Sekur’s pioneering work in the field of inflatable planetary and orbital structures. Finally, Aero Sekur’s commitment to this area of work is confirmed with an insight into how the company is championing a biennial agrospace workshop and new courses to provide the first formal opportunity to educate aerospace engineers in agronomy.

Hydroponics at the heart of the solution: The science of hydroponics is at the heart of Aero Sekur’s solution which, by

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

One Small Step For Aero Sekur

Marzia Pirolli addresses colleagues at an open day at Aero Sekur’s facility in Aprilia, near Rome.

cultivating plants in water rather than soil, and without the use of pesticides, is considerably cleaner for the environment, and for the food crop process, than traditional growing methods.

Aero Sekur has recognised that hydroponic culture is a highly efficient, environmentally friendly and culturally advantageous method of growing plants. However, the company has observed that engineers have never been educated in the subject. Additionally, interest in this alternative method of plant growth has been somewhat stopstart since the mid 90s.

However, with green issues now seriously on most Government’s agendas, and with considerable advancements in space exploration, Aero Sekur recognises that it is timely to be at the forefront of a self-sustained solution for growing plants. And, with inflatable planetary and orbital habitation structure experience for space and earth applications, Aero Sekur is well placed to spearhead developments in this field.

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Technology track record: The ambitious SME organisation has a track record in pushing the boundaries in its areas of expertise. The company has a long history of producing flexible shelters, including NBC tents, and the skills required for this area of work are central to producing a controlled environment greenhouse.

The company also has considerable expertise in producing systems to filter against biological contaminants for military applications.

Examples of Aero Sekur’s space initiatives that demonstrate the company’s advanced development capabilities include a re-entry module that will support applications including returning samples to earth and use as a space lifeboat (SPacecrew EMergency module - SPEM). Additionally, a vented airbag system from Aero Sekur is being produced as part of the ESA ExoMars programme: designed to bring payloads, including Mars probes, safely to rest the system ensures that orientation is maintained on uneven or sloping surfaces.

Aero Sekur is also addressing the space industry’s need for low launch volume, low weight habitation systems. The company’s advanced inflatable structures offer an alternative to conventional rigid structures, with the added benefit of simple erection. With Thales Alenia Space Italia as prime contractor, and materials design & application expertise provided by Aero Sekur, an inflatable (IMOD) module for ESA and an inflatable Flecs Module for ASI (Italian Space Agency) are being produced that will provide a flexible and lightweight alternative to aluminium solutions.

Lunar Greenhouses-Technology transfer at Aero Sekur: Regarding the ‘lunar greenhouse’, one of Aero Sekur’s principle goals is the transfer of technology skills and adoption of expertise in inflatable solutions to provide an environment for the production, transformation and stabilisation of foods that are light, transportable and integrated in a BioRegenerative Life Support System.

Aero Sekur’s development team is

Ae is let

Sustainable Development also in tune with the emotional and psychological aspects of its projects and is aware of the advantages of being able to grow plants in space or in challenging terrestrial environments – much like an oasis in the desert, the team is clear that anyone undergoing a long-term, predominantly solitary existence, benefits from sharing their environment with another growing life form.

While the lunar greenhouse might sound like a story-line for Star Trek, it is in fact a reality as a serious development project for Aero Sekur, with the company’s President championing the initiative. Dott. Ing. Rossignoli is a rare combination of engineer and visionary who inspires the company’s research team at its principal R&D facility located at Aprilia near Rome, Italy. An impressive career history for Rossignoli includes CEO roles for Performa, Emmepi and Fiar.

Rossignoli and his management team have recruited a pool of highly talented young engineers with production experience. The importance of looking outside the company and working with world leading partners is also recognised at Aero Sekur and this is seen as a key contributory factor in the company’s success in pushing development boundaries.

The BaoLab project: Aero Sekur is working alongside a dozen specialised companies, research centres and Universities on the BaoLab project that addresses environmental issues for a terrestrial, selfsufficient unit in terms of energy and water to foster plant growth.

Aero Sekur has been successful using aeroponics and hydroponics and the company is cultivating a number of species including tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers, lettuce, strawberries and basil.

Commenting on the advantages of the solution, Rossignoli says: “The advantage of cultivating plants in a controlled environment is that a significant amount of water is saved and there is improved disease control.

With disease kept out of the cultivating environment, pesticides aren’t required and, without pesticides, cleaner plants are produced.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

One Small Step For Aero Sekur

“Energy is generated through the use of solar cells and through the use of bio mass created by the decomposition of the non edible parts of the plants. Additionally, the process of molecular dissociation generates additional CO2 that is pumped into the greenhouse to dramatically increase the plants’ production capabilities.”

The BaoLab project draws on plant growth techniques developed for space life support, in particular: Water recovery from plant transpiration water / air filtration and revitalisation CO2 for the enhancement and control of plant growth aeroponics and hydroponics Another important space technology transfer adopted for the BaoLab project cited by Aero Sekur is the use of solar concentrated GaAs triple junction solar cells used in the system’s CPV solar arrays.

Rossignoli reports that the BaoLab initiative was designed to illustrate how the concept could be applied to three distinct environments namely space,

Expertise in Controlled Environment Agriculture is being combined with Aero Sekur’s inflatable structures skills to develop greenhouses which provide a self-sustaining method of producing plants.

54

urban communities and desert applications. He reports that it has been successful and that it is now cultivating a number of species including tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers, lettuce, strawberries and basil.

Controlled Environment Expert: Dr. Gene Giacomelli, Director for Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) and Professor in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering at the University of Arizona is a greenhouse horticultural engineer assisting the team at Aero Sekur. Eminent in his field, Giacomelli teaches Controlled Environment Systems which is an introduction to the technical aspects of greenhouse design, environmental control, nutrient delivery systems and hydroponic crop production. Giacomelli’s work in CEA has included development of an enclosed food growth chamber for the US-NSF South Pole Station in Antarctica through to greenhouse hydroponic food systems for commercial production of food crops in modern automated agriculture.

Dawn of a new engineering era: Giacomelli has been mentoring Aero Sekur staff in greenhouse and hydroponic skills to aid the company’s work in the field of bio-plant regeneration.

As a result, Marzia Pirolli, at the age of 29, is destined to become the world’s first agro space engineer. As part of her work for Aero Sekur, Marzia has established a plant nursery and, overseen by Giacomelli, she has built a greenhouse based on the bioregenerative system.

The opportunity presented to Pirolli is viewed as highly significant by Rossignoli as it symbolises the dawn of a new generation of engineers.

Another young engineer at Aero Sekur also has specialist knowledge in the subject gained from a thesis in Aeronautical Engineering at Rome’s La Sapienza University. A thesis, produced by the engineer while working at Aero Sekur, assesses an International Space Station (ISS) based Orto Botanical System.

Sustainable Development Dr. Gene Giacomelli from the Univer-

sity of Arizona who is mentoring Aero Sekur staff. Photograph, courtesy of the University of Arizona-CEAC, shows a mature crop of leaf lettuce produced in a lightweight hydroponic system designed for Mars.

Silvio Rossignoli, President of Aero Sekur: an engineer and visionary who is championing the company’s work in bio plant regeneration.

Rossignoli observes that there are no specific educational routes dedicated to this field of work. As a result, he is ensuring that Aero Sekur assists in plugging this gap for young aerospace engineers. The company is therefore developing strong links with La Sapienza University, which has a faculty in aerospace engineering. Aero Sekur has been invited to give the first lectures in agro space engineering at La Sapienza in 2010, when Giacomelli and Pirelli will be responsible for introducing agro space technology to the world’s first generation of agro space engineers.

Aero Sekur hosts international agrospace forum: Aero Sekur also hosts a biennial agrospace conference which has received global acclaim: the company’s fourth conference will be held in May 2010 in Sperlonga, close to Aero Sekur’s Italian facility.

The forthcoming agrospace workshop will capitalise on the successes within the Space research and development community for Controlled Environments. It will also embrace the recent increase in CEA developments on earth.

The objectives of the workshop are to improve the knowledge base of interested parties, to create greater user awareness and to help promote economic developments for industry that will feed both our current world and our worlds of the future.

Aero Sekur’s event will be an important forum to address capabilities ranging from traditional farms with greenhouse controlled environments to the systems for urban and space agriculture that are under development. The workshop will also look at the expectations for these solutions and how these have increased in response to consumer demand for high quality, locally grown, safe foods with efficient use of controlled inputs and reduced outputs to the environment.

A significant step towards a self sustained solution: Concluding this report for World Environment magazine, Rossignoli reports that Aero Sekur’s work is a significant step forward towards a bio regenerative system for growing plants in space and, through technology transfer, the company is offering an exciting, environmentally beneficial solution for self sustained plant growth on earth.

And this isn’t science fiction. The company says that, in just 15 year’s time, it could be possible to grow plants on the moon. In the shorter term, Aero Sekur has its eye firmly on the opportunity to provide the ISS with an inflatable greenhouse facility to support a fresh food diet for astronauts.

The improved emotional strength provided to astronauts by close proximity to plants and ‘interaction’ with green life form is an important additional benefit highlighted by Aero Sekur.

Aero Sekur reports that it is keen to exploit every possibility of building flexible greenhouses for the space environment.

In the meantime, the company is assisting the future of life on earth through the BaoLab project through work with its local (Latina) province where it is seeking to demonstrate its hydroponic plant growth capabilities.

AERO SEKUR LTD, FOWLER AVENUE, THE HUB, FARNBOROUGH BUSINESS PARK, FARNBOROUGH GU14 7JF, EMAIL SALES@AEROSEKUR.CO.UK WWW.AEROSEKUR.COM 55

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

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A TEAM OF YOUNG ARCHITECTS WINS THE EUROPAN 10 COMPETITION FOR THE SITE OF HEIDELBERG IN DENNMARK

M

artin Sobota (Cityfรถrster), Thomas Stellmach (Uberbau) and Marc Ryan with Artur Borejszo have won the Europan

56

10 competition for the site of Heidelberg in Dennmark.

Europan is a biannual, pan-European

competition that aims to promote the realization of innovative ideas by young architects and urban design professionals.

Sustainable Development

The winning scheme ‘The Red Ribbon’ redefines the waterfront of Heidelberg’s University Campus, the Neuenheimer Feld. The project gives the Campus an appropriate presence within the context of the city and establishes a coherent, public and accessible river frontage. Besides the landscape design for the riverfront it proposes a reorganization of the urban layout of the Campus and the addition of 3 key buildings to the site: Römerlawn, Neckar Island and Biodiversity Centre. A total set of 23 autonomous yet complementary actions supports a phased and flexible implementation.

The Campus Neuenheimer Feld is hidden behind a layer of vegetation at one of the most spectacular sections of the lower Neckar. The Wieblinger Wehrsteg, a pedestrian bridge, indi-

cates the end of the urban section of river Neckar.

The project strengthens the western end of Heidelberg’s urbanized area with a modern counterpart of the Heidelberg’s Schloss, the Neckar Island. The Island is conference and congress centre, a symbol for the innovative research of the University, public beach, exhibit of the natural forces of the river and its diverse flora.

It links the campus on the northern shore of the Neckar to the historic and modern centers of the city in the South.

On the northern shore of the Neckar the Campus opens towards the riverfront and shows a new face towards the city. The present bio–systems are enhanced and exhibited. The waterfront becomes the place where stu-

dents and visitors meet, a place for a Sunday stroll as much as an integral link in the larger scale bicycle network. A rich variety of lawns and terraces along the Neckar provide situations which range from intimate to open, from urban to natural.

The links across the river and along the northern shore are improved and stage the transition between the domesticated and the wild Neckar. Along the river the ‘Red Ribbon’ manifests literally as a 3 km long thread of the traditional red sandstone connecting the Schloss with the University. It is a multipurpose element, to be used as a bench, as an information board, or as a sidewalk. The Wehrsteg bridge is upgraded to provide viewing terraces as well as a dedicated bicycle lane with an access level integrated into the topography. It will be the new main link to the city centre.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

A Team of Young Architects Wins The Europan 10 competition for the site of Heidelberg in Dennmark

The Project:

1

The Red Ribbon, a nearly 3 km long red sandstone line, a multipurpose element — sometimes bench, sometimes information board, sometimes sidewalk— that connects the Schloss with the University.

2

The Bike line integrates local and regional cycling routes. At pinch-points near the Zoo, the bike line is diverted to a dedicated bicycle route.

3

The Water Gardens serve as a demonstration site to illustrate the functional power of biological processes as a strategic tool to clean storm water and revive the biotopes of the river ecology.

7

The Campus Boulevard is guided to the water at its southern end and strengthened in its urban character by framing buildings on both sides.

8

The Römerlawn, a 2-way tilted green plane and stage towards the city and broader landscape, hidden beneath an urban building.

The University Plaza, square and green backbone of Poplar trees defining the main pedestrian entrance to the University Campus.

4

9

The Max Planck Terraces introduce multiple levels for pedestrian movement through re–graded topographies that are enhanced as a new green landscape.

5

The Upper Garden Terraces at the Surgical Hospital expand upon the existing private gardens and extending a series of colorful public parterre gardens that descend to the river.

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6

The Boulevard Balcony opens the view to the city at the southern end of the Campus Boulevard. It is the new lively meeting point of citizens and students with a rich public program at the waterside.

10

The Glass Tower frames the Boulevard Balcony and houses the student centre and educational programme of the University.

Sustainable Development

11

The Neckar Island is conference and congress centre, a symbol for the innovative research of the University, exhibit of the natural forces of the river and its diverse flora.

12 13

The Water Taxi connects the Neuenheimer Feld and the Neckar Island with the university areas in the old centre of Heidelberg.

The Neckar Theatre, public beach and a terrace for open air events, bridges formally and symbolically the two sides of the river, city and university.

14

The Bicycle Bridge is an extension of the ‘Wehrsteg’ on its east side to add a dedicated bicycle connection and facilitate crossing.

The northern landing is lengthened to provide level access for cyclists.

15 The Neckar Falls are a series of 6 terraces with a magnificent view over the Alt-Neckar on the western ‘Wehrsteg’ side.

16 The Zoo-Satellite is an outlet of the zoo — for example an aviary with exotic birds — next to the southern Wehrsteg landing, transporting the Zoo to the city.

17

The Glasshouse Patchwork proliferates the glass house structures found in the botanical garden as a architectural identity for the university on the riverfront. The transparent structure creates a campus for all seasons, including student centre, study rooms, and community functions.

18

The Diversity Hills are planted as a collection of native dry meadows serving as part of a system of connected habitats.

These native landscapes offer a satellite of the Botanical garden and mark the separation of the promenade and bikeline.

19

The Biodiversity Centre offers a new entrance to the Zoo and ties it and the Botanical Garden together. The public roof cafeteria is accessible via the diversity hills which slope towards the rock-like building.

20

The Aviary Passage is an elevated walkway which folds through the aviaries and savanna sceneries, offering surprising perspectives to the animals on different levels.

21

The Neckar Loop provides a panorama over the Alt-Neckar’s islands native habitat and vegetation without disturbing the sensible habitat.

22

The Giraffe Walk creates an eye-to-eye confrontation with the giraffes of the zoo and links the zoo extension to the existing path network.

23

The Amazon allows to witness the emulated Amazon’s habitat above and below water level.

The Team: Cityförster is an international network consisting of eleven designers, architects and urbanists. Martin Sobota is head of the Rotterdam branch of the network. Cityförster deals with the city in all its dimensions and scales — a complex system which functions by the variety and interaction of its components. Based on pragmatic and subtle strategies Cityförster compiles innovative projects aiming for a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development of the built environment.

Cityförster is engaged in various residential and mixed use developments in the Netherlands, Denmark, Albania and Germany, as well as a conversion strategy for Tegel airport in Berlin.

Uberbau (in the course of formation) is the Berlin-based practice of Ali Saad and Thomas Stellmach that specializes in research-based strategic urbanism, urban design and planning as well as architecture. Uberbau focuses on context, density, flexibility, mixed-use, phasing and transformability, which are the as prerequisites for any sustainable approach.

Uberbau will shape an urban vision for the future of Aleppo, the second biggest agglomeration in Syria, and is busy imagining the future of road infrastructure in Europe.

Marc Ryan is a landscape architect and urban designer who brings an acute understanding of the contemporary city with a focus on the relevance of landscape. He has evolved an integrated view of landscape and urbanism that reflects a synthesis between ecology, infrastructure, and public realm design a philosophy that is at the core of his work. Marc’s professional experience includes practice in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands where he has led diverse design teams and worked on large scale urban projects, often related to waterfront redevelopment.

Artur Borejszo is currently employed at Maxwan a+u in Rotterdam and specializes in computer-aided design and visualization. He works for Maxwan on various mixed use and residential projects in the UK, the Netherlands, and Lithuania.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

MAGAZINE

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By Mai SAMAHA

INNOVATION IN ABU DHABI’S NEW HUB: THE HELIX HOTEL

L

eeser Architecture, an internationally recognised firm, recently won an invited competition for a five-star luxury hotel in Zayed Bay in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Named the Helix Hotel for its staggered floor plates, it rests in the bay, partially floating in the water. The Zayed Bay will be setup as a comprehensive development built along a new road, and the site will in-

60

clude office buildings as well as condominiums and retail along the water and the Helix will be the focal point of this new development.

Poised on the edge of the Persian Gulf, the hotel will feature a helical floor space which wraps unevenly around a central void. Though the void seems to offer unmitigated vi-

sibility, there are enclaves for private meetings and guest privacy.

Guests will be able to look up at, and down on, various public areas, including the rooftop deck with a glassbottomed swimming pool.

There are 208 guest rooms, every room has a slightly different view and the cork screw spiral design of

Sustainable Development

In the sub-lobby, a dynamic glass wall will be built from the base of the second floor down into the water.

The wall acts as a curtain would, opening when the weather is cool enough and closing when it is too hot for exposure to the desert air.

the building keeps foot traffic flowing nicely from residential to retail and from saunas to hotel suites, It is designed so that one activity feeds into the next rather than affecting sharp separations between each activity.

or underneath the hotel, is situated instead under the bay. Cars are literally driven into the water. As guests make their way up to their suites, remarkable views out onto the Zayed Bay become even more dramatic on the upper floors.

On the luxury side of vacation culture, there are playful elements that make the hotel a designer destination in an iconic setting. From the outset, it is as much a showplace for the abundance of opulent life as it is a fully incorporated urban experience. For example, the building has a functional reverse fountain, which drops water from the ceiling down through the void to the lower lobby.

At the top of the Helix, the rooftop pool deck features a full sized swimming pool with a glass bottom, with the water and swimmers visible from eight floors below at ground level. In the restaurant below the lobby, the bay’s waves are so near to the floor plate that they lap up onto the edge of the restaurant inside of the glass curtain wall.

At the entry, valets drive clients’ cars into the car park, which, rather than being predictably aboveground

While focusing on unique design, Leeser Architecture is also committed to sound sustainability practices and worked with consultant Atelier

Ten to determine the best possible conditions and materials for heat and energy conservation that would suit the UAE’s climate in long term.

The interior temperature will be maintained by a retractable glass door which will allow cooling sea breezes to enter the building. In the sub-lobby, a dynamic glass wall will be built from the base of the second floor down into the water.

The wall acts as a curtain would, opening when the weather is cool enough and closing when it is too hot for exposure to the desert air.

Whilst an indoor functional reverse fountain drops water from the ceiling down through the void to the lower lobby allows for the accumulation of heat inside the hotel to be minimal by filtering cool water back up into the system as it falls Í 61

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Innovation in Abu Dhabi’s New Hub: The Helix Hotel

GROW employs thin film photovoltaics with piezoelectric generators and screen printed conductive ink encapsulated in ETFE fluoropolymer lamination.

Í

through the void this will also help to keep the interior cool and reduce humidity levels.

Portions of the outside surface will be clad in panels made of a new material called GROW, which has both photo voltaic and wind harnessing capabilities. These panels are made from 100% recyclable polyethylene that will be installed on the exterior and will collect energy from both the sun and the wind. (Polyethylene is a type of polymer that is classified as a thermoplastic, meaning that it can be melted to a liquid and remoulded as it returns to a solid state, it does not readily biodegrade but diligent recycling significantly reduces future problems).

The team at Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology (SMIT) des-

62

igned the GROW panels with the environment in mind this was first realized as an Industrial Design Thesis project at Pratt Institute in Spring 2005 by Samuel Cabot Cochran.

GROW employs thin film photovoltaics with piezoelectric generators and screen printed conductive ink encapsulated in ETFE fluoropolymer lamination.

GROW is designed to utilize emerging technology of the photovoltaic and piezo industry. Based around a modular brick system, it is composed of a small number of different parts. Each brick has five solar leaves which have a very flexible piezo generator at their stem. The manufacturing of these bricks could happen in a roll to roll printing process where PV, conductive ink, and piezo generators can be

layered quickly and efficiently. The leaves are available in a variety of colors and opacities and are 100% recyclable. The various opacities of the leaves can be optimized for their heat gain, light transmission and view.

The rolls can then be stamped and formed to create leaves and connection points. Each brick is designed so that at the end of their life cycle the valuable components, i.e. photovoltaic and piezo, can be stamped out and up cycled while the reusable material, i.e plastic, can be up recycled back into the production stream.

The Helix Hotel project will be presented at the Cityscape developers’ conference in Abu Dhabi early next spring.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

MAGAZINE

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April, 2010

Running out of time

T

he year 2009 ended in a pessimistic note. Copenhagen did not meet the expectations of those who relied on world leaders to take the world in the right direction through a legally binding, just and fair deal to all.

Yes time is running, yes we need to stop over consumption, yes we need to control the way we endlessly use the earth resources.

For all these reasons, I would like to dedicate this issue to all the people who work tirelessly for the sake of humanity, dedicating their time, genius and passion to change the fate of the world.

Nothing can be better expressed, and with as much passion as in “Home” a breathtaking movie, by Yann Arthus Bertrand and Luc Besson, that I invite you all to watch. The movie is about the wonders of the world and the vulnerability of our home planet Earth.

In Conclusion, we need to remember, as they say in the movie, that: “The atmosphere is heating up. Transport, industry, deforestation, agriculture; these activities release gigantic quantities of carbon dioxide. Without realizing it, we have upset the earth climatic balance. The arctic ice caps are melting; humanity has never lived in an atmosphere like this. By 2050, one quarter of the earth species could be threatened with extinction...

All we have to do is look up. It is time to get together. What is important is to save what is left…”

The Web TV Totally Dedicated to the Environment

Stay Tuned on

www.worldenvironment.tv and Visit our Newly Redesigned Web TV:

> User Friendly Interface: Easier to Access and Navigate. > Updated Worldwide News for a Better Knowledge of your Environment. > Documentaries and Interviews. > Dedicated Channels.

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THE

BOOK REVIEW

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Edit by: William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer The extraordinary true story of a Malawian teenager who transformed his village by building electric windmills out of junk is the subject of a new book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Self-taught William Kamkwamba has been feted by climate change campaigners like Al Gore and business leaders the world over. His against-all-odds achievements are all the more remarkable considering he was forced to quit school aged 14 because his family could no longer afford the $80-ayear (£50) fees. When he returned to his parents' small plot of farmland in the central Malawian village of Masitala, his future seemed limited. But this was not another tale of African potential thwarted by poverty.

The Politics of Climate Change

MAGAZINE

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An Inconvenient Truth Edited by: Al Gore An Inconvenient Truth—Gore’s groundbreaking, battle cry of a follow-up to the bestselling Earth in the Balance—is being published to tie in with a documentary film of the same name. Both the book and film were inspired by a series of multimedia presentations on global warming that Gore created and delivers to groups around the world. With this book, Gore, who is one of our environmental heroes—and a leading expert—brings together leading-edge research from top scientists around the world; photographs, charts, and other illustrations; and personal anecdotes and observations to document the fast pace and wide scope of global warming. He presents, with alarming clarity and conclusiveness—and with humor, too—that the fact of global warming is not in question and that its consequences for the world we live in will be disastrous if left unchecked. This riveting new book written in an accessible, entertaining style—will open the eyes of even the most skeptical.

Edit by: Anthony Giddens "A landmark study in the struggle to contain climate change, the greatest challenge of our era. I urge everyone to read it."

Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States of America Climate change differs from any other problem that, as collective humanity, we face today. If it goes unchecked, the consequences are likely to be catastrophic for human life on earth. Yet for most people, and for many policy-makers too, it tends to be a 'back of the mind' issue. We recognise its importance and even its urgency, but for the most part it is swamped by more immediate concerns. Politicians have woken up to the dangers, but at the moment their responses are mainly on the level of gesture rather than being, as they have to be, both concrete and radical.

Political action and intervention, on local, national and international levels, is going to have a decisive effect on whether or not we can limit global warming, as well as how we adapt to that already occurring. At the moment, however, Anthony Giddens argues controversially, we do not have a systematic politics of climate change. Politics-as-usual won't allow us to deal with the problems we face, while the recipes of the main challenger to orthodox politics, the green movement, are flawed at source. Giddens introduces a range of new concepts and proposals to fill in the gap, and examines in depth the connections between climate change and energy security. This book is likely to become a classic in the field. It will be of appeal to everyone concerned about how we can cope with what amounts to a crisis for our civilisation.

4

Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution Edited by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins In Natural Capitalism, three top strategists show how leadingedge companies are practicing "a new type of industrialism" that is more efficient and profitable while saving the environment and creating jobs.

Paul Hawken and Amory and Hunter Lovins write that in the next century, cars will get 200 miles per gallon without compromising safety and power, manufacturers will relentlessly recycle their products, and the world's standard of living will jump without further damaging natural resources. "Is this the vision of a utopia? In fact, the changes described here could come about in the decades to come as the result of economic and technological trends already in place," the authors write.

They call their approach natural capitalism because it's based on the principle that business can be good for the environment. For instance, Interface of Atlanta doubled revenues and employment and tripled profits by creating an environmentally friendly system of recycling floor coverings for businesses.

The authors also describe how the next generation of cars is closer than we might think. Manufacturers are already perfecting vehicles that are ultralight, aerodynamic, and fueled by hybrid gas-electric systems. If natural capitalism continues to blossom, so much money and resources will be saved that societies will be able to focus on issues such as housing, contend Hawken, author of a book and PBS series called Growing a Business, and the Lovinses, who cofounded and directed the Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmental think tank.

The book is a fascinating and provocative read for public-policy makers, as well as environmentalists and capitalists alike. -Dan Ring- This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The Principles of Green Urbanism.

Regenerating the Post-Industrial City Edited by Steffen Lehmann How can urbanism ever be green, based on ecological principles? The answer is to use energy-efficient, zero-carbon models based on renewable energy sources and renewable building typologies, and the principles of ‘Green Urbanism’.

We need to transform and future-proof the post-industrial city through strategies of architectural and urban design.

This book presents different models for sustainable urban development, based on the principles of 'Green Urbanism'.

Current and emergent forms of urbanism are influenced by climate change, leading to the idea of a new generation of 'zero-emission cities'. These cities are seen as applying new concepts in densification and expansion, designed with energy-efficiency and sustainability as principal criteria. The aim of this type of 'Systems Thinking' is to connect and integrate sustainable design principles with a holistic idea for the future of our cities, to generate future-proof strategies for the revitalization of the urban landscape. The first section of the book clearly explains these principles and how they can be employed, illustrated by clear diagrams for ease of comprehension. The principles as applied are then explored through in-depth case studies of the post-industrial Australian city of Newcastle, which is at an important juncture in its urban evolution. Strategies for ‘Green Urbanism’ are presented that are both local and global in scope and relevance.

This is essential reading for urban designers, architects, landscape architects and researchers/students in these disciplines around the world.

The Future of Life Edited by E.O. Wilson The most eloquent, convincing argument yet that preserving our fragile world is a moral responsibility. From one of the world's most influential scientists (and two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning author) comes his most timely and important book yet: an impassioned call for quick and decisive action to save Earth's biological heritage, and a plan to achieve that rescue.

5

DID YOU KNOW

1

Idling your car 10 minutes every day can produce over a quarter ton of CO2 every year.

2

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth

3

About 3.6 billion of the world’s 5.2 billion hectares of useful dryland for agriculture has suffered erosion and soil degradation. In more than 100 countries, 1 billion of the 6 billion world population is affected by desertification, forcing people to leave their farms for jobs in the cities.

4

There are more than a million animal species. There are 6,000 species of reptiles, 73,000 kinds of spiders, and 3,000 types of lice. For each person there is about 200 million insects.

The 4,600 kinds of mammals represent a mere 0,3% of animals and the 9,000 kinds of birds only 0,7%. The most abundant bird species is the red-billed quelea of sub-Saharan Africa, numbering almost 2 billion.

5

There are about a billion bicycles in the world, twice as many as motorcars. Almost 400 million bicycles are in China. Every year some 50 million bicycles – and 20 million cars – are produced. Although Leonardo Da Vinci drew some rough sketches of a contraption that looked like a bicycle, the Frenchman De Sivrac built the first bicycle-type vehicle in 1690.

6

The first documented lighthouse was the Lighthouse of Alexandria, built in 200 BC on the island of Pharos by the Egyptian Emperor Ptolemy.

Considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, it is thought to have been 492 ft (150 metres) high – about three times taller than modern lighthouses.

7

Plant-eating dinosaurs did not eat grass, because there wasn’t any – so it is thought.

During the Mesozoic Era, when the dinosaurs lived, conifers – cone-bearing trees and shrubs – dominated the landscape. They included redwoods, yews, pines, palms, cypress and the monkey puzzle tree. Flowering plants and grass evolved only later.

8 9

The largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia Arnoldi, weighs 7 kg (15 pounds) and grows only on the Sumatra island of Indonesia. Its petals grow to 1.6 ft (1 metre) long and 1 inch (2,5 cm) thick.

The highest bridge in the world can be found in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan Mountains. The valley lies at an altitude of about 5 602 m (18,379 ft) above sea level on the India side of Kashmir.

Called the Baily Bridge, it is only 30 metres (98 ft) long, and was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.

10

One can live without food for almost a month but survive no longer than a week without water. Yet, although almost half of the world’s population live in water-scarce countries, there actually is enough of this precious liquid for everyone.

The UN recommends that a person needs minimum of 50 litres of water a day for drinking, washing, cooking and sanitation, which over a billion people do not have access to.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

MAGAZINE

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By Alia KEBIRI

FROM HOPENHAGEN TO FLOPENHAGEN WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN COPENHAGEN?

T

he outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Convention is disappointing and weak. We knew it would be that, but hoped to emerge with a serious framework for real solutions. Formally, diplomatically, legally, we didn't get that.

Copenhagen is not just a missed opportunity. It is a collective failure by the world's top political «dignitaries». More than 120 Heads of State and Government made their appearances with powerful eloquence, grand gestures and theatrical demeanor. Not one speech failed to contain the sentences: «Climate change is the greatest challenge of the 21st century.» «The time for talking is over, we must act now. » «What is at stake is nothing less than the future of our children.» «We dare not fail.» After three days and nights of the frenzied gridlock, the 30 mightiest 8

players on the world stage presented the «rest» of the negotiating States with a document called the «Copenhagen Accord». For the purposes of effective climate protection, it can only be described as worthless. Even more ludicrous was that they took note of, then criticized the inadequacy of the very policy declaration they had presented: «It is not sufficient to meet the threat of climate change,» said the US negotiator. How true. Despite the urgent warnings from the scientific community that time is running out, despite dramatic appeals from developing countries and island States threatened with disaster, the world community has ended up with empty hands.

Copenhagen failed to deliver on what the 193 countries had already promised and agreed two years ago in Bali: to build further on the Kyoto Protocol, which runs until 2012. If there was still

common will and mutual trust back then, what predominated this time around was selfishness and distrust.

During Copenhagen, it became quite clear to the forest industry that the world is not ready for a low-carbon bio-economy, but instead remains stuck on fossil fuels. Renewable natural resources such as wood were still not granted a special status and the work to define the concept of forest sinks remains incomplete.

The commitment made in Copenhagen is not in any way comparable to the EU's climate and energy policy commitments. The problem of carbon leakage was not resolved. An equal competitive status for companies from different parts of the world was not guaranteed.

The EU's unilateral climate targets still resemble a minor working bee, falling far short of the effort required to clean up the world. European industry needs

Global Warming

«Copenhagen is a betrayal of the poor, a betrayal of the particularly vulnerable countries, a betrayal of our small island States and of all this planet's children and grandchildren.»

a stable climate policy that enables it to anticipate future developments. The EU should establish clear operating prerequisites for clean industry. Industry means doing, manufacturing and producing. The development of European industry must be encouraged in order to supply people with climate-friendly products and services at a reasonable price. This development presupposes an equitable competitive position with the rest of the world.

However, the EU and the USA remain worlds apart. The USA lacked any serious readiness to reduce their emissions quickly and drastically. They were unwilling to assume their historic responsibility for climate warming.

China does not want to «hamper» its fast-growing economy by means of a climate protection agreement. The rift between industrialized, emerging and developing countries could not

be bridged. Hardly anything was heard in Copenhagen about solidarity and justice. The upshot is that there is no binding agreement that would effectively slow down climate change.

Developing countries were promised some dough to help curb climate change, but, as a whole, the negotiations flopped like a pancake. The necessary effort will once again balloon to unruly proportions by the Mexico convention, but matters will hopefully be brought to conclusion in that warmer environment.

Once again, the victims are the poor and defenseless people in the developing countries that are already being hard hit by climate change today. The representative of one Pacific island hit the nail on the head when he said: «Copenhagen is a betrayal of the poor, a betrayal of the particularly vulnerable countries, a betrayal of our small

island States and of all this planet's children and grandchildren.»

Awareness of the problem on the part of critical and concerned world public opinion is obviously greater than the readiness of politicians to take action.

This is why it is so important for civil society and non-governmental organizations, which had strongly advocated a «bottom up» global climate policy in Copenhagen, to keep up the pressure on their governments back home. In any event, we will not discharge the Swiss Federal Council from its responsibility. Switzerland must now pursue a climate policy that represents a genuine contribution to global climate protection. Only in this way will the community of nations still stand a chance of finding the emergency exit, which was written, to no avail, above the main entrance to the Copenhagen conference centre.

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POST COPENHAGEN UNFCCC STARTS RECEIVING LIST OF GOVERNMENT CLIMATE PLEDGES

F

ollowing the conclusion of the climate change talks in Copenhagen, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has received submissions of national pledges to cut and limit greenhouse gases by 2020 from 55 countries.

These countries together account for 78 per cent of global emissions from energy use.

“This represents an important invigoration of the UN climate change talks under the two tracks of Longterm Cooperative Action under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol”, said Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC. “The commitment to confront climate change at the highest level is beyond doubt. These pledges have been formally communicated to the UNFCCC. Greater ambition is required to meet the scale of the challenge. But I see these pledges as clear signals of willingness to move negotiations towards a successful conclusion”, he said.

Industrialized countries listed their mid-term targets to cut emissions: AUSTRALIA: Australia will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% 10

on 2000 levels by 2020 if the world agrees to an ambitious global deal capable of stabilizing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at 450 ppm CO2-eq or lower. Australia will unconditionally reduce our emissions by 5% below 2000 levels by 2020, and by up to 15% by 2020 if there is a global agreement which falls short of securing atmospheric stabilization at 450 ppm CO2-eq and under which major developing economies commit to substantially restrain emissions and advanced economies take on commitments comparable to Australia's.

Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom) acting in common reiterated their conditional offer to move to a 30% reduction by 2020 compared to 1990 levels, provided that other developed countries commit themselves to comparable emission reductions and that developing countries contribute adequately according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities.

CANADA: -17%, to be aligned with

JAPAN: Japan commits to a 25%

the final economy-wide emissions target of the United States in enacted legislation.

reduction, which is premised on the establishment of a fair and effective international framework in which all major economies participate and on agreement by those economies on ambitious targets.

CROATIA: -5% is the temporary target for Croatia. Upon the accession of Croatia to the European Union, the Croatian target shall be replaced by arrangement in line with and part of the European Union mitigation effort.

EU AND ITS MEMBER STATES: As part of a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012, the EU and its Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland,

NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand is prepared to take on a responsibility target for greenhouse gas emissions reductions of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, if there is a comprehensive global agreement. This means that the global agreement sets the world on a pathway to limit temperature rise to not more than 2° C;

Global Warming

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

developed countries make comparable efforts to those of New Zealand; advanced and major emitting developing countries take action fully commensurate with their respective capabilities; there is an effective set of rules for land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF); and there is full recourse to a broad and efficient international carbon market.

NORWAY: As part of a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012 where major emitting Parties agree on emissions reductions in line with the 2 degrees Celsius target, Norway will move to a level of 40% reduction for 2020.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION: The Russian Federation will move to a 15-25%* level of reduction for 2020.

In the range of 17%, in conformity with anticipated U.S. energy and climate legislation, recognizing that the final target will be reported to the Secretariat in light of enacted legislation.

The pathway set forth in pending legislation would entail a 30% reduction in 2025 and a 42% reduction in 2030, in line with the goal to reduce emissions 83% by 2050.

Developing countries communicated information on their nationally appropriate mitigation actions:

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Post Copenhagen UNFCCC Starts Receiving list of Government Climate Pledges

MALDIVES: The Maldives will achieve carbon neutrality as a country by 2020. It is presently undertaking detailed work on implementation of this action and will register a request for technological, financial and capacity building support for implementation.

MEXICO: Mexico adopted its Special Climate Change Program in 2009 including a set of nationally appropriate mitigation and adaptation actions to be undertaken in all relevant sectors.

The full implementation of the Programme will achieve a reduction in total annual emissions of 51 million tons of CO2e by 2012, with respect to the business as usual scenario.

Mexico aims at reducing its GHG emissions up to 30% with respect to the business as usual scenario by 2020, provided the provision of adequate financial and technological support from developed countries as part of a global agreement.

INDIA: India will endeavour to reduce the emissions intensity of its GOP by 20-25% by 2020 in comparison to the 2005 level.

This proposed domestic actions are voluntary in nature and will not have a legally binding character. Further, these actions will be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the relevant national legislations and policies well as the principle

THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA: To reduce national green house gas emissions by 30% from the business as usual emissions by 2020 The next round of formal negotiations is scheduled to be in Bonn, Germany, at the end of May 2010. Several countries have indicated their wish to see a quick return to the negotiations with more meetings than the scheduled sessions. We are seeking further guidance from governments, de Boer added.

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Global Warming

COPENHAGEN

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DIRE WINTER TRIGGERS LIVESTOCK DISASTER IN MONGOLIA

21 000 FAMILIES AT RISK

OF FOOD INSECURITY AND POVERTY B

eijing/Ulaanbaatar, 2 February 2010 – Temperatures plunging to -50°C have killed 1.7 million head of livestock in Mongolia, threatening the livelihoods of 21 000 herder families and putting them at risk of food insecurity, FAO warned today.

An FAO rapid needs assessment on the impact of the disaster has found that urgent external assistance of some $6 million is needed over the next two to three months to help the herders make it through to spring. A spell of intense cold, with temperatures plummeting to minus 40-50°C

followed a very dry and long summer and autumn which produced insufficient fodder to feed livestock during the winter months. Such extreme weather is known locally as a Dzud.

More deaths feared The ongoing Dzud has resulted in huge livestock losses, with 1.7 million deaths counted as of 31 January. If current conditions persist, the government estimates that losses could reach 3-4 million head of livestock by spring.

One third of the population of Mongolia leads nomadic lives and de-

pends entirely on livestock for a living. Their cattle, sheep, goats, horses and camels are the main household asset and are perishing from cold, exhaustion or starvation. Total economic losses so far are estimated at $62 million. Also, substantial numbers of wildlife are dying.

Fourteen of Mongolia’s 21 provinces are considered seriously affected. According to the FAO assessment mission, in eight provinces 21 000 herder families owning between 100 and 300 head of livestock each have lost more than 50 percent of their herds.

Food insecurity

Medium-term interventions should focus on disaster preparedness and risk reduction plans and strategies, and FAO is ready to provide assistance to the country as required.

If assistance is not provided soon, the mission warned, spreading poverty will lead to mass migration to the cities later this year.

vestock input support for the most vulnerable herders as a top priority.

In parallel, fodder, supplementary feed and veterinary care is urgently needed for weak and stressed animals until mid-April, with funding requirements of $6 million. Detailed project profiles are under preparation for submission to donors.

Medicinal supplement

The FAO mission visited Mongolia from 27 January to 1 February.

The FAO mission stressed the urgent need to strengthen household food security for the most vulnerable families to prevent further loss of their assets, and proposed immediate li-

FAO's Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific has provided 5 000 doses of medicinal food supplement for dairy cows, pregnant heifers and young bulls as immediate assistance.

The affected families face increased levels of food and livelihood insecurity as their cash income rapidly declines and prices of fodder climb sharply compared to last year.

Mongolia covers an area of 1.6 million square kilometers, an area roughly the size of Western Europe.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT: www.fao.org

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ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD SECURITY TOGETHER Opportunities in agriculture should not be missed - FAO publishes policy brief

F

arming practices that capture carbon and store it in agricultural soils offer some of the most promising options for early and costeffective action on climate change in developing countries, while contributing to food security, FAO said in a policy brief prepared for the Copenhagen summit.

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Yet agriculture has been largely excluded from the main climate financing mechanisms under discussion in Denmark, the agency said.

Agriculture not only suffers the impacts of climate change, it is also responsible for 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

But agriculture has the potential to be an important part of the solution, through mitigation-reducing and/or removing a significant amount of global emissions. Some 70 percent of its potential for reducing emissions could be realized in developing countries, FAO said. "We hope the UN summit in Copenhagen will send a clear signal

Global Warming

that agriculture in developing countries should play a vital role in responding to this global challenge," said Alexander MĂźller, FAO Assistant Director-General.

"There are strong synergies between climate change mitigation, adaptation and food security that will be captured, if we do this right."

The FAO policy brief being released in December 2009 calls for funding to help "vulnerable" developing nations respond "more comprehensively to the dual challenges of climate change and food security."

The brief said such support should reward actions aimed at reducing

emissions and adapting to climate change, while also encouraging agricultural development and improved food security.

The policy brief also suggested exploring synergies between Official Development Assistance (ODA) and new, additional climate funding. Ă?

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Addressing Climate Change and Food Security Together

Í

Part of the solution Food production will have to increase by 70 percent to feed an additional 2.3 billion people by 2050, FAO said. Climate change threatens agricultural production through higher temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns, and increased occurrences of droughts and floods, especially in areas that are already prone to climate-related disasters.

Poorest regions with the highest levels of chronic hunger are likely to be among the worst affected by climate change, "Agriculture offers readily avai-

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lable and cost-effective options for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, and can start to do so now," Müller said. "And climate financing mechanisms targeting agriculture could speed up efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change, while helping to reduce hunger and poverty.”

tion agriculture capture carbon and store it in soils. These include no/low tillage, utilizing residues for composting or mulching, use of perennial crops to cover soil, re-seeding or improving grazing management on grasslands and agro- forestry, which combines crops and trees.

In contrast, he added, some other sectors may well require investments in expensive technologies and new, longterm research.

The idea, said Müller, is to disturb the soil as little as possible, keep it covered and mix and rotate crops, so that carbon is taken out of the atmosphere and parked in soils and vegetation.

Nearly 90 percent of agriculture's potential to reduce or remove emissions

Certain farming practices, including those used by organic and conserva-

Global Warming Climate change threatens agricultural production through higher temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns, and increased occurrences of droughts and floods, especially in areas that are already prone to climate-related disasters.

from the atmosphere comes from such practices.

Beyond soil carbon sequestration, more efficient fertilizer use and management of livestock systems are also promising options that enhance emission removals and reductions.

Many of these activities may also reduce deforestation and forest degradation due to their associated productivity gains, which means more food can be produced without expansion of agriculture into forests.

FAO stressed that improved farming

practices required for climate change mitigation are often the same as those needed to increase productivity, food security and adaptation, including the restoration of degraded agricultural lands, integrated nutrient and soil management and agro-forestry.

The way forward In addition to calling for funds to be channeled into mitigation and adaptation schemes for agriculture, FAO believes a work programme on agriculture, within the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice could build confidence at the

international level around agriculture's role in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Country-led pilot projects could demonstrate how synergies across climate change mitigation, adaptation and food security might be exploited, while building capacity and confidence in the use of technologies, financing mechanisms and methodologies needed to do this.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT: www.fao.org 19

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By Federico NIGLIA

GERMANY: THE RISE OF THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL POWER 20

Global Warming

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Germany: the Rise of the New Environmental Power

T

he outcome of the last UN conference on climate has been disappointing. Apart from the Chinese decision to allow tracking its emissions’ cuts, no other significant achievements have been reached.

Probably, at Copenhagen the most unsatisfied European government was the German one. This should not be surprising: in the last years Germany has asserted its own primacy within the EU on the environmental front.

The government of Berlin is the main advocate of the transformation of the EU into the most advanced area worldwide, not only for the environ-

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mental protection, but also for the implementation of green technologies.

The most surprising evidence is in the speed of the German conversion to ecology. Twenty years ago, Germany was still carrying out the process of reunification, implementing series of reforms in order to harmonise two parts of a country divided for more than forty years. On the environmental point of view the situation was similar to other European countries: in the eastern part, moreover, there was a significant predominance of high-polluting industries.

From that moment on, Germany implemented a process of reconversion of its economy and society in order to make

them more consistent with the environmental ambition. As a result, the emission of greenhouse gases was reduced by 18% between 1990 and 2005.

According to the main literature existing on this issue, such a significant result is based on the joint action of economic, suasive and legislative instruments. Assuasive instruments, like eco-labeling, eco-auditing and environmental agreements, together with the economic ones, like subsidies and environmental tax, have stimulated the voluntary (and conscious) adaptation of the German society and economic actors to the new vision.

Global Warming

This success is also rooted in the specific dynamics of the German political system. A strict connection between the ecologist/environmentalist interests and the political sphere was established from the seventies onward.

The environmental groups sought political and institutional representation: since 1979, when the Green party obtained a seat in the parliament of Bremen, environmental issues broke into the political debate of the Federal Republic and later of the reunified Germany.

Both Christian-democratic and Socialdemocratic governments have conside-

red, in the last years, the environmental issue as one of the main priorities of the country. During the nineties the interest for the environmental issues rose further on, partially as a consequence of the general elections of 1998, which led to the building of the coalition between the Greens and the Social-democrats.

Environmental policy recorded a leap forward during the Gerhard Schröder’s chancellorship: a new economy was created oriented to the production and the development of eco-friendly goods, services and activities. At the beginning of the new millennium the policies for the production of non polluting energies have been further more streng-

thened, supporting the production of electricity with renewable sources. The result, after 10 years from the implementation of the plan, is that the quantity of clean electricity has doubled.

Today the challenge not only involves the substitution of the polluting energy sources with other less polluting energies but also and especially the coordination between the different sources of green energy. The ‘integrated energy systems’ consists of the synergy among green-energy producers (wind-power, solar energy but also derivate of natural gas) and allows to provide stable energy supply independently by weather conditions and more stable prices.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Germany: the Rise of the New Environmental Power

Environment and energy represent a continuously increasing field of action of the German international activity.

In this way the German government demonstrates to be among the most receptive governments to the issues related to globalisation.

Í

Angela Merkel, in agreement with the liberals of FDP, aims to remark the discontinuity with the previous environmental policies defined as ‘ideological’. Doing this, the government has no intention to damage the leadership gained by Germany in environmental technologies on the international scale.

It is not a case that the global economic and financial crisis did not result in Germany – as it happened in many other countries – in the weakening of the environmental commitment.

Facing the crisis the chancellor took the occasion to re-launch the stimulus plan on green economy and the production of renewable sources of energy.

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In conclusion, it should also be underlined that environmental policies represent a pillar of the German foreign policy. Environment and energy represent a continuously increasing field of action of the German international activity. In this way the German government demonstrates to be among the most receptive governments to the issues related to globalisation.

Such attitude has brought the German government to assume a very clear and advanced position on climate change, global warming and sustainable development. Doing this, Germany has often been in opposition to a number of emerging powers but also to such EU members that are more cautious

on this topic. This, however, does not exclude that Germany could represent a model also for the emerging powers within the international community.

There is strong evidence of the economic and political benefits resulting from the adoption of a virtuous model of ‘environmental power’. New emerging powers, which are more and more integrated in the global economy, are expected to take a more effective responsibility also in the governance of the international community. In this perspective, the German model may be more attractive than others.

Federico Niglia is a Senior Research Fellow at the instituto Affari Internazionali Rome.

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CARBON OFFSETTING HIGH QUALITY CLIMATE PROTECTION

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Global Warming limate change is a growing problem which has risen a lot awareness in the last few years: It’s a concern, that in the mean time, almost everyone has in mind and people are willing to contribute in different ways to reduce climate change. As an individual person or a company, one way to engage in climate protection is to cooperate with a climate protection organization and invest in its carbon offset projects. Over the years, innumerable such players, profit or non-profit, have been established.

This is the point of time, where quality and reliability of the different foundations start to matter.

C

“myclimate” Concerning quality, the Swiss nonprofit foundation myclimate, founded in 2002 enjoys a good reputation.

Independent studies regularly rate myclimate among the top offset providers of the world: As a leading supplier for voluntary carbon offsetting worldwide myclimate´s carbon offset projects meet the highest international standards (CDM, Gold Standard) and – aside from reducing greenhouse gas emissions – contribute to sustainable development in the project region. One of the myclimate projects has been the first CDM project worldwide to generate emission reductions with the Gold Standard label. myclimate guarantees that at least 80% of the offsetting revenues are directly invested into the carbon offsetting projects.

Project Biomass briquettes and efficient cookers in Uttarakhand, India. Women from the local village are collecting needles of trees to make biomass briquettes.

The high credibility of the organization and the expertise of its employees are reflected in the fast growing customer base, such as Swiss International Airlines, Tui, Lufthansa, Seat, Virgin Atlantic, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and many others.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Carbon Offsetting High Quality Climate Protection

Project Efficient cookers in south-west Madagascar, Madagascan women prepare their food with solar cookers using the energy of the sun.

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Carbon neutral with “myclimate” Individuals can fly carbon neutral and offset their car and household emissions. For companies myclimate offers tailored solutions.

They can offset parts of their business emissions, like emissions of a product, or the whole company’s emission. “myclimate” calculates the emissions, advises its customers concerning the ideal carbon offsetting strategy and supports them in their communication activities of their engagement.

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Emissions which can’t be avoided are offset in well-chosen projects in developing and emerging countries as well as in Europe and New Zealand. myclimate’s funding makes it possible to use renewable energies and energy efficient technologies instead of inefficient fossil fuel technology. By this, emissions are reduced in a sustainable and measurable way and the projects contribute to global climate protection.

More than just carbon offsetting Besides carbon offsetting, climate education is another department of

myclimate which serves clients with capacity building, but also promotes the public dialogue on climate protection, e.g. with exhibitions, interactive teaching in schools as well as with public discussions.

The third core competence of myclimate is the systematically analysis and calculation of clients’ emission profiles to deliver information for their resource management strategy.

With the results of the life cycle assessment, myclimate enables factbased high quality decision-making at corporate management level.

Global Warming

What Is A Carbon Offset?

Along with these services the Swiss foundation serves its clients with designing individual software for different fields and needs.

This wide repertoire of myclimate’s high quality climate protection services meets a broad range of different needs of different people and companies who want to help avoiding climate change and who are willing to take responsibility.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT: www.myclimate.org

A carbon offset is a financial instrument aimed at a reduction in Greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon offsets are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) and may represent six primary categories of greenhouse gases.One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases.

There are two markets for carbon offsets. In the larger, compliance market, companies, governments, or other entities buy carbon offsets in order to comply with emissions trading (caps) on the total amount of carbon dioxide they are allowed to emit. In 2006, about $5.5 billion of carbon offsets were purchased in the compliance market, representing about 1.6 billion metric tons of CO2e reductions.

In the much smaller, voluntary market, individuals, companies, or governments purchase carbon offsets to mitigate their own greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electricity use, and other sources.

For example, an individual might purchase carbon offsets to compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions caused by personal air travel. Many companies offer carbon offsets as an up-sell during the sales process so that customers can mitigate the emissions related with their product or service purchase (such as offsetting emissions related to a vacation flight, car rental, hotel stay, consumer good, etc). In 2008, about $705 million of carbon offsets were purchased in the voluntary market, representing about 123.4 million metric tons of CO2e reductions Offsets are typically achieved through financial support of projects that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in the short- or long-term.

The most common project type is renewable energy, such as wind farms, biomass energy, or hydroelectric dams. Others include energy efficiency projects, the destruction of industrial pollutants or agricultural byproducts, destruction of landfill methane, and forestry projects. Some of the most popular carbon offset projects from a corporate perspective are energy efficiency and wind turbine projects.

Carbon offsetting has gained some appeal and momentum mainly among consumers in western countries who have become aware and concerned about the potentially negative environmental effects of energy-intensive lifestyles and economies. The Kyoto Protocol has sanctioned offsets as a way for governments and private companies to earn carbon credits which can be traded on a marketplace. The protocol established the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which validates and measures projects to ensure they produce authentic benefits and are genuinely "additional" activities that would not otherwise have been undertaken. Organizations that are unable to meet their emissions quota can offset their emissions by buying CDM-approved Certified Emissions Reductions.

Offsets may be cheaper or more convenient alternatives to reducing one's own fossil-fuel consumption. However, some critics object to carbon offsets, and question the benefits of certain types of offsets Offsets are viewed as an important policy tool to maintain stable economies.

One of the hidden dangers of climate change policy is unequal prices of carbon in the economy, which can cause economic collateral damage if production flows to regions or industries that have a lower price of carbon - unless carbon can be purchased from that area, which offsets effectively permit, equalizing the price.

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Global Warming

IT'S TIME FOR ACTION

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

It's time for action

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or the year 2010, G is launching the campaign CO2010 to rebalance the equation of Lebanon’s environment. The climate’s current state is quite alarming and has drawn the attention of the world’s most influential leaders. As a result, G has set into motion a strategy starting by the year 2010 to address Climate change in Lebanon.

Addressing Climate Change Climate change is inevitable! Global warming has become perhaps the most complicated issue facing world leaders.

We could stand by and watch the worst yet to come, or we could take a firm stand to protect our planet. To do so, we need to replace fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy sources significantly decreasing the amount of CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere.

Climate change’s impact is not limited to a certain city or country or region not even to a continent; it is in fact a global dilemma. There have been numerous attempts to curb the increase of CO2 emission worldwide, as the current emission level is considered as over the limit; yet, not in Lebanon.

Even with the drought, desertification, reduction in agricultural production and extreme weather events, awareness and actions are still limited.

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100,000 tons less CO2 While so many emission reduction measures exist, tree planting is a win-win solution as people benefit from them in so many different ways. They could play a significant part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in our country.

CO2010 Campaign plans to reduce Lebanon’s carbon emissions by 100,000 tons. It is a nationwide campaign, under the patronage of the Minister of Environment. All Lebanese can be involved in this event whether they are businessmen or workers or students or farmers.

If an extra 100,000 trees are planted in Lebanon over the next year, it will lock up 100,000 tons of Lebanon’s predicted gas emissions by the end of 2010. This is why CO2010 is being launched today.

This campaign’s main goal is to reduce 100,000 tons of CO2 in 2010 by planting 100,000 fruit trees by bringing 15,000,000,000 $ profit to farmers.

Olive Trees: Olive trees are evergreen plants native to the Mediterranean, Asia and parts of Africa. They are the kind of trees that can live for a very long period of time.

Olive trees’ trunks are very hard. Also, they are drought-, disease-, and fire-resistant. In addition, their root system is very robust and is capable of regenerating the tree even if the above-ground structure is destroyed.

Apple Trees: Apple trees are one of the most widely cultivated fruits tree. They are usually small and deciduous. Their height ranges between 3 and 12 meters, with a broad, often densely twiggy crown.

Apple trees contribute significantly to lowering the atmospheric quantities of carbon dioxide where a mature apple tree can reduce up to 300 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Almond trees: PLANTING TREES Trees and carbon credits are becoming the daily deals of companies and establishments. This is why CO2010 highlighted the top native trees that will assist in getting carbon credits and in offsetting the CO2 emissions for the coming year. The same systems used in Europe, USA and Africa will be adopted on the Lebanese territory to keep up with the global mission to reduce the overall CO2 emissions.

Almond trees are small trees growing 4 to 10 meters in height. They are a species of tree native to the Middle East.

Globally, the almond industry is working to develop almond-specific data with research related to greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in almond production. Additional efforts are being put through the Copenhagen conference to give carbon credits for growing almond trees.

Global Warming Cherry trees: Cherry trees are flowering trees that bear fruit. They have a very short growing season and can grow in most temperate latitudes. The peak season for cherries is in the summer. Cherry trees are being planted as saplings and harvested according to standard organic principles, the method that will increase the CO2 offsetting and fasten the tree’s growing process..

Pear Trees: The pear is a fruit tree of genus Pyrus and also the name of the tree’s edible fruit. Pear trees are being used around the world now as a model of true ecotourism. Not only do these trees help in reducing CO2 emissions, but they also play a very important role in cooling the air and bringing down the heat.

Apricot Trees: It is a small tree, 8–12 m tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter and a dense, spreading canopy. In France, Armenia and many other countries in Europe, apricot trees are playing a major role in reforestation aiming at CO2 reduction. Apricot trees grow fast, and can be considered native to almost any country. Not only that, but also, apricot trees carry a large return of fruit for the farmers, and as well needs adequate water and heights.

G is a Lebanese green consulting and carbon offsetting firm committed primarily to provide environmental consultancy and effective solutions for businesses and organizations in order to promote a healthier environment, cleaner earth, and a more sustainable future.

It is genuinely targeted towards protecting our planet by trimming down climate change threats, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting high-quality carbon offsetting solutions. Such solutions include reforestation programs, green buildings, recycling and reduction of paper use, effective water use, sound environmental legislations and public outreach to individuals and governments at large.

Carbon Neutral: Carbon Neutral is a comprehensive carbon strategy which involves a rigorous assessment of the businesses direct and indirect carbon emissions. It also engages in means to avoid and reduce these emissions. Finally, this strategy seeks methods and recommendations for the emissions that cannot be reduced further, offsetting them by investing in emission reduction projects which have prevented or removed an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide elsewhere.

Reforestation One of the main greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide (CO2). As trees grow they absorb CO2 from the air. When the wood dies the CO2 is returned to the air.

Forest clearance and wood burning is increasing the latter half of the process, adding to the CO2 in the atmosphere. Deforestation is now out of control.

The loss of the forests also means that there are fewer trees to absorb CO2.

That is why G has set tree-planting projects that are related to local sustainability and alleviation of poverty. To become Carbon-Neutral, planting trees is recognized as a potential offsetting method. G Reforestation strategy first step includes assessing the quantity of carbon emissions that your business is causing. Our auditors will calculate the amount of trees you need to plant in order to offset your carbon footprints.

Legislation: In Lebanon there has been a general discussion about the government’s environmental policies and how our lifestyle is leading to climate change. G is committed to update the current Lebanese environmental laws that have not been amended since the year 1943 by promoting new regulations that can encourage sustainable development. We are also committed to lobby the Parliament to decrease taxes for companies who are applying environmental standards.

Green Building: Going green is a social movement that resulted from increased awareness and recognition of the danger our planet was put in. G is committed to address Global Warming hazards by encouraging organizations and businesses to respond to the problem by building Green Buildings. G is the only NGO in Lebanon that provides LEED Green Building Rating Systems consultation. As a sustainability and green building consulting firm, G guides high aspiration organizations that want to use sustainability as a competitive driver. G has partnered with U.S. based company ECS (Environmental Consulting Services) that was founded in 1995. They offer a full spectrum of professional services to industrial, commercial, and governmental clients. Their team consists of a wide range of environmental consulting professionals, registered engineers, scientists, geologists, CIS analysts, LEED APs. 33

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THE 1

What's the best way to reduce CO2 emissions from a car?

a) Buy a car with a catalytic converter (converts gases into less harmful substance) b) Drive less and buy a more fuelefficient car c) Drive very slowly

2

What percentage of household water use does the bathroom account for?

a) 10-15% b) 30-35% c) 70-75%

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QUIZ

3

5

A) 1.35 million B) 10.8 million C) 22.7 million

A) The innermost portion of the storm which is calm with little or no wind B) The centre of the storm C) The area with the most concentrated level of activity or intensity

How many barrels of petroleum were consumed per day in the U.S. in 2009?

4

Which of the following factors have an effect on UV (ultraviolet ray) levels?

A) Clouds B) The ozone layer C) Snow D) All of the above

What is the "eye" of a hurricane?

6

Switching from a large SUV (sport utility vehicle) to a compact car can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by roughly: A) 30 kilograms per year B) 300 kilograms per year C) 3,000 kilograms (3 tonnes) per year

ANSWERS ON PAGE 128

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SOLARIMPULSE INVENTING THE FUTURE:

AROUND THE WORLD IN A SOLAR AIRPLANE

«Meeting a challenge of this magnitude is possible only by taking maximum advantage of solar energy.

Every watt counts, and we are looking to track down every way we can save energy.

Only the most advanced solutions, most of them never applied before, will permit this.

We believe we have found them by combining the experience and summing the potential of every team member.»

André Borschberg

O

n December 3, 2009 the Solar Impulse HB SIA, the first airplane designed to fly day and night without fuel, left the ground for the first time.

The results of the ground tests conducted these last few weeks to verify numerous parameters (the prototype’s controllability, acceleration, braking paths and, engine power) had been overwhelming positive, thereby leading the team to give

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the go ahead to Markus Scherdel, the test pilot, to take the prototype up to its take off speed.

As the aircraft gently took up speed, the huge wing of the Solar Impulse gradually rose into the air under intense admiration of the project promoters, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. After some 350 meters of flight at an altitude of one meter,, the prototype graciously landed on the centre of the runway, triggering

a frenzied applause from the team.

On the one hand I find it terrific to see a dream come true. For over ten years now, I have dreamt of a solar aircraft capable of flying day and night without fuel and promoting renewable energy. Today, our plane took off and was airborne for the very first time. This is an unbelievable and unforgettable moment! On the other hand, I remain humble in the face of the difficult journey still to be accomplished – it’s a long way

Energy der and CEO of Solar Impulse. At this stage the solar panels have not yet been connected. With the positive conclusion of this initial “flea hop”, the Solar Impulse HB SIA will now be dismantled and transported to the airfield at Payerne (VD). Starting in early 2010 onwards, the aircraft will be making its first solar test flights, gradually increasing flight duration until it makes its first night flight using solar energy

NIGHT FLYING THANKS TO THE SUN: THE ZERO FUEL AIRPLANE

Two men, both pioneers and innovators, both pilots, are the driving force behind Solar Impulse: Bertrand Piccard, psychiatrist and aeronaut, who made the first non-stop round-theworld balloon flight, is the initiator and chairman.

André Borschberg, an engineer and graduate in management science, trained as a fighter pilot and a professional airplane and helicopter pilot, is the CEO. The former’s avant-gardist vision and the latter’s entrepreneurial experience are an ideal combination.

Trajectory

Vision

Solar Impulse continues a long tradition of exploration, adventure and scientific development. By initiating this challenge, Bertrand Piccard is continuing his family’s tradition of adventure, from the exploration of the stratosphere and the ocean depths to his own round-the-world balloon flight. Joining him in this adventure is a team headed by André Borschberg, whose competence guarantees the success of the project, and partners who are also keen to invent the future. The challenges of our world can only be met by those with a pioneering spirit who go looking for new solutions outside our current habits and certainties.

Solar Impulse believes in the force of symbols. By writing a new page of aviation history with solar energy, by way of a round-theworld flight without fuel or pollution, Solar impulse is determined to actively promote the cause of renewable energies and the energy efficiency that new technologies are offering. The Solar Impulse initiative is both scientific, with all the research it implies, and philosophical, by virtue of its concern to stir society in order to be sparing of our planet’s energy resources.

An epic in stages

between these initial tests and a circumnavigation of the world”, commented Bertrand Piccard, initiator and President of Solar Impulse.

This is the culmination of 6 years of intense work by a very experienced team of professionals! This first “flea hop” successfully completes the first phase of Solar Impulse, confirming our technical choices. We are now ready to start the next phase – the actual flight tests, said Andre Borschberg, co foun-

A tandem at the controls

After 6 years from the first concept to the finished prototype, the HB-SIA solar aircraft will need to be put through its paces, before starting out on its 36 hour flight, which is a major objective of the project. From fleahops to circuits, several months will be needed before undertaking the first night flight.

A second aircraft will then be built and, starting in 2012, will retrace, using solar energy, some of the great firsts in the history of flight. After the crossings of the USA and the Atlantic, the culminating point will be the tour of the world in five stages.

Challenge To produce an aircraft which will take off and fly, under its own power, both day and night, entirely propelled by solar energy, is an unachievable challenge without drastically reducing energy consumption. Solar Impulse’s 50 engineers and technicians, supported by a hundred or so experts and advisers, have had to apply totally new aeronautical solutions. Whilst not the first solar aircraft project, Solar Impulse is certainly the most ambitious: the HB-SIA prototype should be the first aircraft to come close to perpetual flight.

AIRPLANE With the giant wingspan of an Airbus A340 and its proportionally miniscule weight, the HB-SIA prototype presents construction and aerodynamic fea- Í 37

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Solarimpulse Inventing the Future Around the World in a Solar Airplane

Ă?

tures never before encountered. Carbon fibre structure, propulsion chain, flight domain and instrumentation, everything has been rethought and designed to save energy, resist high altitude factors hostile to both materials and pilot, and to combine the constraints of weight with the imperatives of resistance.

Tests and virtual flights Calculations, tests and simulations are an integral part of each step of the construction process. Wing charge and vibration tests have served to fine-tune the models developed by the engineers, and move forward 38

step by step in a totally unknown field. To control an aircraft with such totally new features, the pilots are having to adapt to a flight behaviour very different to that of other aircraft types. A simulator has been specially developed to familiarize them with the aerodynamics and flight mechanics of the HB-SIA. The pilots’ capability has already been tested during a 25 hour virtual flight in the tiny 1.3m3 cockpit.

Energy capturing and storage The 11,628 monocrystalline silicon cells, each 150 microns thick, have

been selected for their lightness, flexibility and efficiency. At 22%, their energy efficiency could have been higher, but the additional weight would have penalized the aircraft during night flight.

In this, the most critical stage, the major constraint of the project is storing energy in the lithium polymer batteries. At the present stage, the maximum energy density is 220 Wh/kg. The accumulators needed for night flight weigh 400 kg, equal to Âź of the total weight of the aircraft. Success is therefore possible only by maximizing aerodynamic

Energy

Technical data sheet Wingspan 63.40 m, Length 21.85 m, Height 6.40 m.

Motor power 4 x 10 HP electric engines Solar cells 11,628 (10,748 on the wing, 880 on the horizontal stabilizer) Average flying speed 70 km/h, Maximum altitude 8,500 m (27,900 ft) Weight 1,600 kg, Take-off speed 35 km/h

performance and optimizing the energy chain.

profile these two layers and give the body its aerodynamic shape.

Structure and materials

Propulsion system

Attaining a 63.40 m wingspan with the necessary rigidity, lightness and flight controllability and with just 1,600 kg take-off weight is a challenge that has never before been met in aeronautics.

Solar Impulse is built round a carbon fibre-honeycomb composite using a sandwich structure. The upper wing surface is covered with a skin of encapsulated solar cells, and the undersides of the wings with a high resistance flexible film. 120 carbon fibre ribs placed at 50 cm intervals

Beneath the wings are four gondolas, each containing a 10 HP motor, a lithium polymer battery set and a management system controlling charge/discharge and temperature. The thermal insulation has been designed to conserve the heat radiated by the batteries and to keep them functioning despite the 40°C encountered at 8,500 metres.

Each engine is fitted with a reducer that limits the rotation of each 3.5 metre diameter, twin-bladed propeller within the range of 200-4,000 rpm.

Energy resources At midday, each m² of land surface receives the equivalent of 1,000 watts, or 1.3 horsepower of light power. Over 24 hours this averages out at just 250 W/m². With 200m² of photovoltaic cells and 12% total efficiency of the propulsion chain, the aircraft‘s engines achieve on average just 8 HP or 6 KW – roughly the amount of power the Wright brothers had available to them in 1903 when they made their first powered flight. And it is with this energy, optimized from the solar panel to the propeller by the efforts of an entire team, that Solar Impulse is striving to fly day and night without fuel!

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MAGAZINE

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PLAYING IN THE FUTURE The Anter Park in Tuscany is the first European example of a theme park dedicated to Renewable Energies. It is a path towards a sustainable future available to families, children and students as well as to the neighbooring university which will be in charge of its scientific update.

R

enewable energies are not a game, but may become so. They can become a ludic and fun way to reach an important goal, through teaching to young people the respect of the environment and to become more knowledgeable of new sources of energy. In this perspective, Anter Park is aiming to become the first park in Europe and the main center for teaching renewable energies in a ludic way.

The playful learning park project, developed by Anter and signed by Michelangelo Brachi, has already taken its model drawn by Elena Danti and Simona D'Andrea it has already been submitted to the city of Prato, Tuscany where the park should be built. Loca-

40

ted near the center of natural sciences and the Galceti Park it will be perfectly integrated to the greenery and the nature of the region. Anter Park’s goal is to spread, especially among the youngest generations, a new awareness of all energies.

The first objective is to create an attraction park made of small power plants capable of generating energy from different energy sources that will not cause any environmental impact on the climate, but be rather harmonized and naturally integrated with the environment.

Visiting the park would mean making a path towards the sustainable future of

energies of the XXIst century. Throughout the path the kids, and their parents, will find several examples of renewable energy sources: a photovoltaic system, a thermal top of two bioclimatic greenhouses, a small wind turbine, a transparent hydroelectric mill, a geyser field and a volcano reconstruction to explain geothermal energy.

To the entire structure an auditorium will be added, which will have a sitting capacity for 100 attendees. While Saturdays and Sundays will be open to families the teaching structure will be reserved to schools' visits during the week. The Anter Park should not only be seen as a playground for children and teenagers, but rather as the labo-

Energy

ratory place for current advanced technologies; an area of research and study empowered by the University of Prato. Its president, Professor Maurizio Fiorava, presented the project, and confirmed his university role in the renewable energies field.

The Anter Park will be the first step of a more ambitious plan to launch a cultural renaissance of the Prato region, by creating new job opportunities, and creating “a city of sciences” where the former Banci exhibit center use to be.

The track to be followed is similar to a successful project which has already been achieved in the city of Naples: a complex system composed by an inter-

active science museum, an area dedicated to training, territorial development, and to the creation of new entrepreneurship, this in addition to a number of new areas dedicated to events, congresses and conferences.

“The city administration, said the vice mayor and environment councilor Goffredo Borchi, watches with great interest the drafts of Anter Park which fits perfectly into the city’s sustainable and durable development plan which recommends the use of renewable energies and encourages businesses and consumers to innovate and use ecological materials in order to steer the market in the recommended direction.”

“The educational park designed by Anter, said Maurizio Fioravanti president of the University of Prato, is tightly in accordance to the University’s goal to spread a better knowledge of the new renewable energy sources and to encourage the use of those energies. By partnering with the Anter Park the Prato university will contribute in this way to the environmental education of the younger generations and ultimately to contribute to qualify the Town of Prato as the headquarter of research and teaching excellence in the environmental field.”

Courtesy of Anter

Park

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.anter.info 41

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By Steffen LEHMANN

THE FUTURE IS GREEN A Conversation between two German Architects in Sydney

S

(photos: Cida de Aragon, 2009)

ince the foundation of his practice Ingenhoven Architekten in 1985, Christoph Ingenhoven (born 1960, as son of an architect) is an advocate of sustainable design and lowenergy architecture. He is considered Germany’s most successful architect of his generation and a leader in the application of sustainable design concepts using an ecological approach.

Conversation between Christoph Ingenhoven and Steffen Lehmann Main themes that stand at the centre are: future work environments, ecology, mobility, and ning the design competition for a new rope, which Ingenhoven designed in urban landscapes. Conceptual stratehigh rise tower in Sydney’s central bu1991 and completed in 1997, was one of gies and realization of innovative sosiness district in 2006, his new ‘Space’ the first ecologically orientated highlutions, an integrated approach and high rise office tower (to be completed rise buildings that – with its double fadedication to optimize and implein 2011; ground breaking was in May çade technology – allows each floor to ment it on all levels, is visible. It is ob2009) and his recent involvement with be naturally ventilated. vious that Ingenhoven is influenced the urban and architectural design of by the work of other modern German the Barangaroo waterfront develop The Lufthansa Headquarters at architects, such as Egon Eiermann, ment, brings him to Australia on a reFrankfurt Airport completed in Frei Otto, Thomas Herzog, and Guengular basis. The Australian city will 2006, which requires only one-third ther Behnisch, which understood so gain a prominent addition to its skyof the energy of a conventional ofwell the relationship and tension betline with this new 6-star Green Star fice building. ween architecture and engineering. rated office tower on Bligh Street.

The new Main Station in Stuttgart, Christoph Ingenhoven is involved in to be built over the next ten years, Other major works include: projects all over the world and is in The RWE Tower, a cylindrical high which was awarded the Gold Global creasingly involved in the design of Holcim Award in 2006 for its sustairise headquarters in Essen, for one of major buildings in Australia. After winnable design. As carbon-free and zero the biggest energy suppliers in Eu-

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Sustainable Development energy railway station, it will require no heating, cooling or mechanical ventilation (described as ‘the 21st century underground version of a 19th century railway cathedral’; Walsh, 2008).

German architect, Steffen Lehmann, who holds the Chair at the University of Newcastle (NSW) and the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Urban Design for Asia and the Pacific, met with Christoph Ingenhoven in Sydney in 2009, to discuss the future of green design. Here are excerpts from their conversation.

Public space, and the city as a whole, are always much more important than a single building.

If we think about sustainability as a necessity, it’s still very complex but not impossible, to build city districts entirely without CO2 emissions and zero waste to landfill. Mixed-use is hereby one of the most important aspects, because it is a prerequisite for achieving social sustainability.

Christoph Ingenhoven

> Steffen Lehmann (SL) Christoph, at the beginning I would like to talk with you about the challenges of designing sustainability at an urban scale – let’s say for the Barangaroo waterfront development in Sydney, but also more generally. I feel we have moved on from the scale of the individual building or from the sophisticated façade solution, to a broader scale that deals with the entire city. Discussing sustainability on the scale of districts and neighbourhoods, rather than on the eco-facade scale, means that we can focus on potential strategies that you might bring to Sydney projects in the light of the huge challenges we are facing.

For instance: How can we best address the broader requirements for the necessary transformation of cities and their energy landscape?

> Christoph Ingenhoven (CI) Public space, and the city as a whole, are always much more important than a single building. If we think about sustainability as a necessity, it’s still very complex but not impossible, to build city districts entirely without CO2 emissions and zero waste to landfill. Mixed-use is hereby one of the most important aspects, because it is a prerequisite for achieving social sustainability. For example, at the new university campus in Dublin,

which we are currently planning, we are incorporating a series of existing buildings in the master plan. New campus structures will have large sophisticated roof shells with buildingintegrated photovoltaic panels and wind turbines. These buildings will provide more energy than the campus will need to operate.

the city centre. Efficient public transport will play a major role in this transformation process.

For Barangaroo, we developed the idea of ‘energy islands’, where much of the required energy is generated locally onsite, or at least as close-by as possible, using solar-PV and wind turbines along the harbour.

The idea of autonomous energy production with small units onsite is very interesting, and we also propose to reuse an existing wharf building that is already there.

Our concept for Barangaroo hopes to extend the CBD by improving and complementing the setting, and reduce the energy needed for this new district by having the right volume, exposure, façade and, of course, by having the right systems in place. A better life-cycle and potential reuse, allowing for changes of structures in future, means more flexibility.

Barangaroo is Sydney’s great chance to be one of the sustainable 21st century cities.

> SL: What exactly is your involvement with the Barangaroo waterfront development in Sydney?

- CI: We have been invited to be part of a large international team, with JPW and landscape architect Peter Walker, Leighton Properties, MIRVAC and Macquarie Bank, and we are competing here with the team of Richard Rogers. I see the Barangaroo project as Sydney’s last chance to significantly expand and transform its CBD through genuinely mixed-use sustainable strategies. Sydney will need to keep up with changes to stay competitive with other cities such as Singapore or Shanghai. At the same time, Sydney needs a very good, longterm plan which improves its sustainability performance. The city must continue to evolve in order to remain competitive, by integrating density in commercial and living spaces, bringing people back to live in

> SL: A lot of your design work is research-led and based on in-house knowledge that you have built up from one project to the next, an aspect not dissimilar to the practices of Norman Foster or Renzo Piano, where we can find technologically focused details, with a constantly expanding knowledge base that is nurtured inside the office, for instance in the fields of prefabrication and façade technology. One project builds on the previous one. Given that you are now involved in projects from Osaka to Sydney to Luxemburg, how do you feel about exporting this German know-how globally?

- CI: It seems to me natural to export this know-how. I think German architecture has been very committed to green buildings for a long time, and this has presumably something to do what others call ‘German angst’, which

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The Future is Green a Conversation Between Two German Architects in Sydney

Ingenhoven’s new 6-star Green Star rated office tower on Bligh Street in Sydney.

Façade details

Í

could also be described as being scared about the environmental pollution and destruction, health issues and security problems, which we can see everywhere today. This development started around 25 years ago, but it is more than just a question of technology or detail – it has grown to a unique approach and attitude. I do not think it is possible to export the solution, but it is possible to bring a philosophical approach and commitment to another place, never the solution as such. The final solution emerges from climatic considerations and the local contextual circumstances, which in every project need to be carefully analyzed at the beginning.

> SL: Sustainable design is always about holistic approaches, about seeing things systemically and with regard to all the connections – and implications – of what we do, exploring and understanding the variety of solutions that are usually available to any problem. You frequently use large 44

glass panels to achieve transparency in your designs, even in hot and humid climates such as Singapore or Osaka.

Wouldn’t it be more helpful to use prefabricated concrete panels to reduce the amount of heat gain?

There are many ways to avoid heat gain. One is by choosing appropriate materials and surfaces, but a glass tower might lack thermal mass. I know that you do not use glass wherever you build, but there is clearly a desire to build transparency, similar to the early modernists. Where does this urge come from?

- CI: This desire for transparency has to do with the human experience.

Humans used to live constantly outside before we started to settle, and for me, this has something to do with an instinctive wish to live outdoors, directly experiencing the change of seasons and sunlight. Yes, transparency is difficult to achieve, because it’s a question of energy saving too, but even in a building like the Osaka tower, if you calculate the

amount of glass, it’s less than 50 per cent, because you have the metal cladding and core areas which are closed. We are always restricted by orientation and views, trying to keep out the steep summer sun with sophisticated sun shading devices.

For instance, at the Bligh Street tower, the naturally-ventilated atrium is completely oriented to the south, shielded from the sun. To ensure energy-efficiency, we provide a double-skin façade with efficient sun shading in the space between.

I don’t want to be ideological about the question of materials and transparency. We have done wooden facades and brick facades. For instance, the university building in Duesseldorf is nearly closed on the colder façade; only the sunny side is open, using passive design principles, and wide cantilevering roofs keep the summer sun away. The traditional house, with verandahs around them, is actually quite transparent too. If you think of the traditional examples

Sustainable Development in Singapore, these provide flexible envelopes.

Steffen Lehmann

> SL: So the double-skin façade is

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a modern interpretation of the traditional verandah? That’s quite a poetic way to look at it.

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- CI: Maybe it’s more like the modern

The Principles of Green Urbanism.

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interpretation of a multi-layered window. I remember I was very impressed as a kid when I visited, with my father, an old house on Lake Geneva, an area which has a mild climate. An old villa there had shutters outside the window for security reasons, then the window itself, which they called a ‘winter window’, had an inner window, and in-between these two wooden framed windows was an inside shutter for glare control. In addition, they had two different layers of curtains on the inside one translucent and one for blacking-out.

So, they ended up with six layers.

How can urbanism ever be green, based on ecological principles? The answer is to use energy-efficient, zero-carbon models based on renewable energy sources and renewable building typologies, and the principles of ‘Green Urbanism’.

We need to transform and future-proof the post-industrial city through strategies of architectural and urban design.

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Current and emergent forms of urbanism are influenced by climate change, leading to the idea of a new generation of 'zero-emission cities'. These cities are seen as applying new concepts in densification and expansion, designed with energy-efficiency and sustainability as principal criteria. The aim of this type of 'Systems Thinking' is to connect and integrate sustainable design principles with a holistic idea for the future of our cities, to generate future-proof strategies for the revitalization of the urban landscape. The first section of the book clearly explains these principles and how they can be employed, illustrated by clear diagrams for ease of comprehension.

The principles as applied are then explored through in-depth case studies of the post-industrial Australian city of Newcastle, which is at an important juncture in its urban evolution. Strategies for ‘Green Urbanism’ are presented that are both local and global in scope and relevance.

> SL: And you have only three!

- CI: Exactly! (laughs) But you see the technology is quite old. You can find it in vernacular architecture in the Alps, for instance at old farmhouses. These frequently have so-called ‘winter glasses’, and they just put these in as is necessary.

> SL: I want to talk with you about the question of density in urban design, and the idea of high rise. Does the notion of ‘green high rise tower’ actually exist, and can a high rise ever be truly green?

- CI: They have to be green! In future there will be no modern city without high rise. Many German cities are shrinking as population is in decline; they don’t need high rise buildings.

But globally, Asian cities are rapidly growing, and we find there they have hundreds, even thousands, of high rise buildings for working and living – just think of Hong Kong. We need high rise towers on the global scale. So, why shouldn’t we develop better high rise

This is essential reading for urban designers, architects, landscape architects and researchers/students in these disciplines around the world.

Approximately 600 pages, with over 600 color illustrations.

235 x 172mm Paperback. edition: ISBN PB 978-1-84407-817-2 £29.95.

Publisher: Earthscan, London www.earthscan.co.uk Hardcover edition: ISBN HB 978-1-84407-834-9 £85.00. Í

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The Future is Green a Conversation Between Two German Architects in Sydney

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models? The denser city is certainly the better city, but this doesn’t depend on high rise. Take, for example, Houston in the US, which has high rise but an appalling low overall density. It depends on the whole city scale. Sydney has an extremely low density and is one of the biggest energy consumers per capita.

On the opposite side, the city of Copenhagen, which has no high rise at all, is one of the best cities in terms of energyefficiency.

What does this all tell us? It’s not about high rise, but about other elements; for instance the extensive use of the automobile has become a major problem, and it is essential to understand the need for more public transport and mixeduse neighbourhoods. Even in the European context, a single person commuting every morning and evening alone in a car uses more energy as a 4-person family in a house. Sustainable urban design depends on the right mix of uses, the right densities, and efficient public transport. We can reduce the energy consumption of a city by combining living and working, and by reducing the distances in between and therefore reducing traffic.

> SL: But all buildings you design are large mono-functional ‘machines’. For instance, the Lufthansa Headquarters is a huge complex – and I know the brief has asked for this. Are there any new mixed-use typologies that are emerging? In this regard, what is, then, the future of Asian cities that are currently experiencing rapid urbanization?

- CI: The city needs to be planned in a way that reduces dependence on the automobile. The land use in the city and public transport needs to be intensified. We need to upgrade on all

46

“Beauty is the logical consequence of necessity, logic, truthfulness, efficiency, simplicity and minimalization.”

Christoph Ingenhoven “Sustainable design is always about holistic approaches, about seeing things systemically and with regard to all the connections – and implications – of what we do, exploring and understanding the variety of solutions that are usually available to any problem.”

Steffen Lehmann

levels, from new bus-based routes, to light rail networks and cycle paths, if we seriously want to enhance mass transit. Of course, it’s still very difficult to do a real mixed-use high rise typology. The bigger a single building is, the more difficult and unsafe it becomes. To be honest, the better solution might be to have office high rises and residential towers side-byside, not mixed in one building.

Structure and service-wise it’s really difficult to do an environmentally sustainable project for both users. I would like to be realistic, it’s not about a single piece of architecture, it’s about the city’s overall structure and intensification of use.

> SL: Barcelona has been looked at as a robust model, where walking is very pleasant and well supported by a memorable public space network.

However, Barcelona has about double the population density per square kilometer compared to Sydney. We don’t build new cities from scratch. So, what should we do with the existing cities and existing building stock? And what should we do with the suburbs? A lot of new research indicates that compact 4- to

6-storey buildings are more likely to deliver social and environmental sustainability.

For instance, Thomas Herzog can be quoted to comment, that if there is a black-out, a 30-storey building is dysfunctional, but a 5-storey building can still be used.

- CI: We need to increase the density, compactness and intensity in the suburbs too, maybe even give some of it back to nature by demolishing inefficient suburbs. The city is about being able to deal with technology on many levels. A smaller grain of decisions and function is much better than large complexes. I agree that we need a clear step towards compactness. > SL: Many planners predict that the suburb is an outdated model and urban sprawl will soon outrun and stop by itself, as no one wants to live in isolated, far-out houses anymore.

- CI: This will require a shift in public thinking. At the moment, most of us live in the suburbs, which are still growing into the landscape, consuming precious landscape and agricultural land. But I agree, the ineffectiveness of low-density suburbs makes it an outdated model. Several developers, who used to develop suburbs, are now talking to us about inner-city residential buildings and ways to make their products green. To communicate good green design and to convince the client is not the problem. You can always explain things. The main problem is that the public is not yet really behind it.

There is a lot of public desire for sustainable architecture, but I often find that people are not really interested.

> SL: It seems today, a building’s sustainability rating correlates to its letability and therefore to its value on

Sustainable Development the real estate market. I would like to talk about the new tower in Bligh Street, a building hailed as a ‘benchmark building’ in integrative environmental design and construction in Australia, even before it’s completed. It’s an elliptical tower, similar to Harry Seidler’s cylindrical ‘Australia Square’ tower from 1961, which, in fact, is just next door. How can you ensure it is a truly a new generation of green high rise, without knowing the tenants and their fit-out plans?

- CI: The Bligh Street tower – also known as ‘Space’ – will feature a transparent elliptical shape, with 29 storeys and is around 140 metres high.

provided by the double-skin façade.

The building will capture great gap views to Circular Quay, and there is a whole range of things we have introduced that will make the project work well. For instance, the façade will allow us to have a 100 per cent shading solution and glare protection, with perforated internally adjustable blinds within the 600mm doubleskin cavity.

The sun protection is very efficient, while maintaining the views, so we can use non-tinted glass on the outer skin. This makes the building extremely transparent and will offer the user a different experience. The

ventilated outer skin is made of clear glass, which will ensure a highly transparent building. The treatment of water has also been made a priority: There’s the on-site black-water treatment of 25,000 litres of sewage and recycling.

In addition, we’re tapping into the city sewer and will be treating another 75,000 litres a day and using the water for landscape features, such as the green walls in the ground floor plaza, and also for toilet flushing. In addition, there is a gas-fired cogeneration plant in the basement, and solar tubes with absorption chillers are used for creating solar cooling. Í

It has a range of progressive environmental design features, including a double skin façade with potential for natural ventilation, an atrium and a range of energy and water initiatives.

Our work is based on innovative and holistic solutions in terms of energy, sun shading and thermal comfort. The use of regenerative energies and resources, like geothermal energy and rainwater, plays an important role in all our building concepts, and so does the intensive integration of daylight, as well natural cross-ventilation. With a minimum consumption of energy and resources we aim for the highest degree of user comfort.

Our first eco-high rise was the RWE Tower in Essen, twenty-five years ago, which was all about the building’s envelope. Since then, we have done over 40 buildings with dual glass skin facades, and the technology has greatly evolved over this time. The Bligh Street tower will be the first high-rise to receive a 6-Star certificate on the Green Star rating system.

This tower will be equipped with a real double-skin façade and will be ventilated by an atrium stretching the whole height of the tower. 50 percent of the ventilation will be

Prof. dr.

Steffen Lehmann Professor Dr. Steffen Lehmann holds the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Urban Development for Asia and the Pacific.

He is also the Chair, Professor of Architectural Design at the University of Newcastle (Australia), and Founding Director of the s_Lab Space Laboratory for Architectural Research and Design.

He has been building green buildings and realizing green urbanism since 1993, in Germany, London, Tokyo and Australia.

Over the last 15 years he has presented his research in green urbanism at over 250 conferences in 23 countries.

For further information: www.slab.com.au

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The tri-generation system uses gas and solar energy to generate cooling, heating and electricity. 500 sqm of roof mounted solar panels will provide energy to directly power the absorption chiller. Solar cooling is great new technology, invented in Germany. Free heating is provided by in-slab pipe work supplied with the heat that is normally rejected through the cooling towers.

A hybrid air conditioning system consists of chilled beam cooling for the façade and a low temperature variable air volume (VAV) system for the central zones.

Also in regard to construction methods, we will exceed the standards: The concrete which will be used contains a much higher percentage of recyclable materials than usual, site amenities are solar powered and 90 per cent of the rubble from demolition would be put back into the site.

> SL: Interestingly, the tower has a compact single shape. Frei Otto, the pioneer of light building, used to say that the human eye perceives those shapes, which are the product of a successful natural evolution towards the most optimal form, as especially beautiful. You can be quoted by saying that ‘beauty is the logical consequence of necessity, logic, truthfulness, efficiency, simplicity and minimalization’ (Ingenhoven, 2005).

It seems to me that the building’s highly refined elliptical shape – a distorted circle in plan – deals well with the diagonal shift that occurs here in the main city grid, the angle of Bligh Street and the curve along Bent Street.

In addition, the flattened shape maximizes harbour views form offices inside. I read that the tower’s elliptical plan is 12 per cent more efficient than a rectangular building in its façade to 48

“We need to increase the density, compactness and intensity in the suburbs too, maybe even give some of it back to nature by demolishing inefficient suburbs.”

balconies projecting into the atrium, creating social spaces and opportunities for interaction between tenancies. Sustainability has also a strong social component, and this part is about creating human public spaces and healthy working spaces.

> SL: What are the other challenges with this project, for instance, the ‘unknown’ user requirements?

Christoph Ingenhoven

floor area ratio – so it also delivers economic efficiency.

It’s interesting what you propose for the ground floor. The office floors are pushed up to provide an open public space on the ground floor, with the tower above. This publicly accessible urban undercroft will make it easier to relate to the street level and surrounding context, and allow more responsible city-making, I suppose.

- CI: Exactly. Maximizing the view, while eliminating solar gain. The atrium is hereby another key element of the building and it allows natural light to penetrate deep into the floor plate. Ventilating through the atrium also means that the offices stay noise protected.

It creates a social hub for office workers and has balconies that project into the atrium void to provide naturally ventilated break-out spaces, which is important when we think of the next generation workspace.

> CI: With rental office buildings there is often a disconnect with the end user of the offices, the unspecified tenant that will occupy the building. This has the disadvantage that we cannot communicate with the future users during the design phase, and need to make decisions based on assumptions.

We try to predict future tenant requirements and focus on indoor environmental qualities and energyefficiency. Of course, the performance of the design is also dependent on the fit-out and how the tenants will operate the building.

While the tower has the potential to be fully naturally ventilated, it depends on the final fit-out from the tenant.

Much of the cooling will be provided passively, by activating the thermal mass of the concrete slab. If realized to a high standard, our double-glazed façade concept will allow naturally ventilated floor space for high rise offices, something that is possible even in extreme climatic conditions – like during summer in Sydney, when the temperature outside can reach 35 degrees Celsius.

> SL: Christoph, thank you for the conversation.

What interests me first and foremost is how people will prefer to work in the next decade and how they envision an optimal work environment.

Each floor in this tower will have

CHRISTOPH INGENHOVEN’S WEB SITE: www.ingenhovenundpartner.de

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Aero Sekur is investing heavily in work in the fields of aeroponics and hydroponics to grow plants in a controlled, non soil-based environment.

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Sustainable Development

Aero Sekur’s greenhouse crop production solution creates energy via solar cells and bio mass created by the decomposition of the non edible parts of the plants.

CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE:

ONE SMALL STEP FOR AERO SEKUR A n Anglo-Italian company that specialises in safety systems and advanced flexible structures for the aerospace and defence markets is investing heavily in work in the fields of aeroponics and hydroponics to provide a solution for growing plants in a controlled, non soil-based environment. Additionally, through technology transfer, the company is working on developments to aid space life support through its bio plant regeneration initiative. In this article for World Environment Magazine, an insight is given into how Aero Sekur is

working with an international expert in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and how this knowledge is being combined with the company’s expertise in developing low launch weight inflatable structures to produce a lunar greenhouse. Details are also given of a terrestrial greenhouse – a parallel initiative playing a key part in a project entitled ‘BaoLab’ which, as a self-sustaining method of producing plants, offers major environmental advantages.

Before providing project details, an introduction to the science of hydroponics

is given and background provided of Aero Sekur’s pioneering work in the field of inflatable planetary and orbital structures. Finally, Aero Sekur’s commitment to this area of work is confirmed with an insight into how the company is championing a biennial agrospace workshop and new courses to provide the first formal opportunity to educate aerospace engineers in agronomy.

Hydroponics at the heart of the solution: The science of hydroponics is at the heart of Aero Sekur’s solution which, by

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One Small Step For Aero Sekur

Marzia Pirolli addresses colleagues at an open day at Aero Sekur’s facility in Aprilia, near Rome.

cultivating plants in water rather than soil, and without the use of pesticides, is considerably cleaner for the environment, and for the food crop process, than traditional growing methods.

Aero Sekur has recognised that hydroponic culture is a highly efficient, environmentally friendly and culturally advantageous method of growing plants. However, the company has observed that engineers have never been educated in the subject. Additionally, interest in this alternative method of plant growth has been somewhat stopstart since the mid 90s.

However, with green issues now seriously on most Government’s agendas, and with considerable advancements in space exploration, Aero Sekur recognises that it is timely to be at the forefront of a self-sustained solution for growing plants. And, with inflatable planetary and orbital habitation structure experience for space and earth applications, Aero Sekur is well placed to spearhead developments in this field.

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Technology track record: The ambitious SME organisation has a track record in pushing the boundaries in its areas of expertise. The company has a long history of producing flexible shelters, including NBC tents, and the skills required for this area of work are central to producing a controlled environment greenhouse.

The company also has considerable expertise in producing systems to filter against biological contaminants for military applications.

Examples of Aero Sekur’s space initiatives that demonstrate the company’s advanced development capabilities include a re-entry module that will support applications including returning samples to earth and use as a space lifeboat (SPacecrew EMergency module - SPEM). Additionally, a vented airbag system from Aero Sekur is being produced as part of the ESA ExoMars programme: designed to bring payloads, including Mars probes, safely to rest the system ensures that orientation is maintained on uneven or sloping surfaces.

Aero Sekur is also addressing the space industry’s need for low launch volume, low weight habitation systems. The company’s advanced inflatable structures offer an alternative to conventional rigid structures, with the added benefit of simple erection. With Thales Alenia Space Italia as prime contractor, and materials design & application expertise provided by Aero Sekur, an inflatable (IMOD) module for ESA and an inflatable Flecs Module for ASI (Italian Space Agency) are being produced that will provide a flexible and lightweight alternative to aluminium solutions.

Lunar Greenhouses-Technology transfer at Aero Sekur: Regarding the ‘lunar greenhouse’, one of Aero Sekur’s principle goals is the transfer of technology skills and adoption of expertise in inflatable solutions to provide an environment for the production, transformation and stabilisation of foods that are light, transportable and integrated in a BioRegenerative Life Support System.

Aero Sekur’s development team is

Ae is let

Sustainable Development also in tune with the emotional and psychological aspects of its projects and is aware of the advantages of being able to grow plants in space or in challenging terrestrial environments – much like an oasis in the desert, the team is clear that anyone undergoing a long-term, predominantly solitary existence, benefits from sharing their environment with another growing life form.

While the lunar greenhouse might sound like a story-line for Star Trek, it is in fact a reality as a serious development project for Aero Sekur, with the company’s President championing the initiative. Dott. Ing. Rossignoli is a rare combination of engineer and visionary who inspires the company’s research team at its principal R&D facility located at Aprilia near Rome, Italy. An impressive career history for Rossignoli includes CEO roles for Performa, Emmepi and Fiar.

Rossignoli and his management team have recruited a pool of highly talented young engineers with production experience. The importance of looking outside the company and working with world leading partners is also recognised at Aero Sekur and this is seen as a key contributory factor in the company’s success in pushing development boundaries.

The BaoLab project: Aero Sekur is working alongside a dozen specialised companies, research centres and Universities on the BaoLab project that addresses environmental issues for a terrestrial, selfsufficient unit in terms of energy and water to foster plant growth.

Aero Sekur has been successful using aeroponics and hydroponics and the company is cultivating a number of species including tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers, lettuce, strawberries and basil.

Commenting on the advantages of the solution, Rossignoli says: “The advantage of cultivating plants in a controlled environment is that a significant amount of water is saved and there is improved disease control.

With disease kept out of the cultivating environment, pesticides aren’t required and, without pesticides, cleaner plants are produced.

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One Small Step For Aero Sekur

“Energy is generated through the use of solar cells and through the use of bio mass created by the decomposition of the non edible parts of the plants. Additionally, the process of molecular dissociation generates additional CO2 that is pumped into the greenhouse to dramatically increase the plants’ production capabilities.”

The BaoLab project draws on plant growth techniques developed for space life support, in particular: Water recovery from plant transpiration water / air filtration and revitalisation CO2 for the enhancement and control of plant growth aeroponics and hydroponics Another important space technology transfer adopted for the BaoLab project cited by Aero Sekur is the use of solar concentrated GaAs triple junction solar cells used in the system’s CPV solar arrays.

Rossignoli reports that the BaoLab initiative was designed to illustrate how the concept could be applied to three distinct environments namely space,

Expertise in Controlled Environment Agriculture is being combined with Aero Sekur’s inflatable structures skills to develop greenhouses which provide a self-sustaining method of producing plants.

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urban communities and desert applications. He reports that it has been successful and that it is now cultivating a number of species including tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers, lettuce, strawberries and basil.

Controlled Environment Expert: Dr. Gene Giacomelli, Director for Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) and Professor in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering at the University of Arizona is a greenhouse horticultural engineer assisting the team at Aero Sekur. Eminent in his field, Giacomelli teaches Controlled Environment Systems which is an introduction to the technical aspects of greenhouse design, environmental control, nutrient delivery systems and hydroponic crop production. Giacomelli’s work in CEA has included development of an enclosed food growth chamber for the US-NSF South Pole Station in Antarctica through to greenhouse hydroponic food systems for commercial production of food crops in modern automated agriculture.

Dawn of a new engineering era: Giacomelli has been mentoring Aero Sekur staff in greenhouse and hydroponic skills to aid the company’s work in the field of bio-plant regeneration.

As a result, Marzia Pirolli, at the age of 29, is destined to become the world’s first agro space engineer. As part of her work for Aero Sekur, Marzia has established a plant nursery and, overseen by Giacomelli, she has built a greenhouse based on the bioregenerative system.

The opportunity presented to Pirolli is viewed as highly significant by Rossignoli as it symbolises the dawn of a new generation of engineers.

Another young engineer at Aero Sekur also has specialist knowledge in the subject gained from a thesis in Aeronautical Engineering at Rome’s La Sapienza University. A thesis, produced by the engineer while working at Aero Sekur, assesses an International Space Station (ISS) based Orto Botanical System.

Sustainable Development Dr. Gene Giacomelli from the Univer-

sity of Arizona who is mentoring Aero Sekur staff. Photograph, courtesy of the University of Arizona-CEAC, shows a mature crop of leaf lettuce produced in a lightweight hydroponic system designed for Mars.

Silvio Rossignoli, President of Aero Sekur: an engineer and visionary who is championing the company’s work in bio plant regeneration.

Rossignoli observes that there are no specific educational routes dedicated to this field of work. As a result, he is ensuring that Aero Sekur assists in plugging this gap for young aerospace engineers. The company is therefore developing strong links with La Sapienza University, which has a faculty in aerospace engineering. Aero Sekur has been invited to give the first lectures in agro space engineering at La Sapienza in 2010, when Giacomelli and Pirelli will be responsible for introducing agro space technology to the world’s first generation of agro space engineers.

Aero Sekur hosts international agrospace forum: Aero Sekur also hosts a biennial agrospace conference which has received global acclaim: the company’s fourth conference will be held in May 2010 in Sperlonga, close to Aero Sekur’s Italian facility.

The forthcoming agrospace workshop will capitalise on the successes within the Space research and development community for Controlled Environments. It will also embrace the recent increase in CEA developments on earth.

The objectives of the workshop are to improve the knowledge base of interested parties, to create greater user awareness and to help promote economic developments for industry that will feed both our current world and our worlds of the future.

Aero Sekur’s event will be an important forum to address capabilities ranging from traditional farms with greenhouse controlled environments to the systems for urban and space agriculture that are under development. The workshop will also look at the expectations for these solutions and how these have increased in response to consumer demand for high quality, locally grown, safe foods with efficient use of controlled inputs and reduced outputs to the environment.

A significant step towards a self sustained solution: Concluding this report for World Environment magazine, Rossignoli reports that Aero Sekur’s work is a significant step forward towards a bio regenerative system for growing plants in space and, through technology transfer, the company is offering an exciting, environmentally beneficial solution for self sustained plant growth on earth.

And this isn’t science fiction. The company says that, in just 15 year’s time, it could be possible to grow plants on the moon. In the shorter term, Aero Sekur has its eye firmly on the opportunity to provide the ISS with an inflatable greenhouse facility to support a fresh food diet for astronauts.

The improved emotional strength provided to astronauts by close proximity to plants and ‘interaction’ with green life form is an important additional benefit highlighted by Aero Sekur.

Aero Sekur reports that it is keen to exploit every possibility of building flexible greenhouses for the space environment.

In the meantime, the company is assisting the future of life on earth through the BaoLab project through work with its local (Latina) province where it is seeking to demonstrate its hydroponic plant growth capabilities.

AERO SEKUR LTD, FOWLER AVENUE, THE HUB, FARNBOROUGH BUSINESS PARK, FARNBOROUGH GU14 7JF, EMAIL SALES@AEROSEKUR.CO.UK WWW.AEROSEKUR.COM 55

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A TEAM OF YOUNG ARCHITECTS WINS THE EUROPAN 10 COMPETITION FOR THE SITE OF HEIDELBERG IN DENNMARK

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artin Sobota (Cityfรถrster), Thomas Stellmach (Uberbau) and Marc Ryan with Artur Borejszo have won the Europan

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10 competition for the site of Heidelberg in Dennmark.

Europan is a biannual, pan-European

competition that aims to promote the realization of innovative ideas by young architects and urban design professionals.

Sustainable Development

The winning scheme ‘The Red Ribbon’ redefines the waterfront of Heidelberg’s University Campus, the Neuenheimer Feld. The project gives the Campus an appropriate presence within the context of the city and establishes a coherent, public and accessible river frontage. Besides the landscape design for the riverfront it proposes a reorganization of the urban layout of the Campus and the addition of 3 key buildings to the site: Römerlawn, Neckar Island and Biodiversity Centre. A total set of 23 autonomous yet complementary actions supports a phased and flexible implementation.

The Campus Neuenheimer Feld is hidden behind a layer of vegetation at one of the most spectacular sections of the lower Neckar. The Wieblinger Wehrsteg, a pedestrian bridge, indi-

cates the end of the urban section of river Neckar.

The project strengthens the western end of Heidelberg’s urbanized area with a modern counterpart of the Heidelberg’s Schloss, the Neckar Island. The Island is conference and congress centre, a symbol for the innovative research of the University, public beach, exhibit of the natural forces of the river and its diverse flora.

It links the campus on the northern shore of the Neckar to the historic and modern centers of the city in the South.

On the northern shore of the Neckar the Campus opens towards the riverfront and shows a new face towards the city. The present bio–systems are enhanced and exhibited. The waterfront becomes the place where stu-

dents and visitors meet, a place for a Sunday stroll as much as an integral link in the larger scale bicycle network. A rich variety of lawns and terraces along the Neckar provide situations which range from intimate to open, from urban to natural.

The links across the river and along the northern shore are improved and stage the transition between the domesticated and the wild Neckar. Along the river the ‘Red Ribbon’ manifests literally as a 3 km long thread of the traditional red sandstone connecting the Schloss with the University. It is a multipurpose element, to be used as a bench, as an information board, or as a sidewalk. The Wehrsteg bridge is upgraded to provide viewing terraces as well as a dedicated bicycle lane with an access level integrated into the topography. It will be the new main link to the city centre.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

A Team of Young Architects Wins The Europan 10 competition for the site of Heidelberg in Dennmark

The Project:

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The Red Ribbon, a nearly 3 km long red sandstone line, a multipurpose element — sometimes bench, sometimes information board, sometimes sidewalk— that connects the Schloss with the University.

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The Bike line integrates local and regional cycling routes. At pinch-points near the Zoo, the bike line is diverted to a dedicated bicycle route.

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The Water Gardens serve as a demonstration site to illustrate the functional power of biological processes as a strategic tool to clean storm water and revive the biotopes of the river ecology.

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The Campus Boulevard is guided to the water at its southern end and strengthened in its urban character by framing buildings on both sides.

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The Römerlawn, a 2-way tilted green plane and stage towards the city and broader landscape, hidden beneath an urban building.

The University Plaza, square and green backbone of Poplar trees defining the main pedestrian entrance to the University Campus.

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The Max Planck Terraces introduce multiple levels for pedestrian movement through re–graded topographies that are enhanced as a new green landscape.

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The Upper Garden Terraces at the Surgical Hospital expand upon the existing private gardens and extending a series of colorful public parterre gardens that descend to the river.

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The Boulevard Balcony opens the view to the city at the southern end of the Campus Boulevard. It is the new lively meeting point of citizens and students with a rich public program at the waterside.

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The Glass Tower frames the Boulevard Balcony and houses the student centre and educational programme of the University.

Sustainable Development

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The Neckar Island is conference and congress centre, a symbol for the innovative research of the University, exhibit of the natural forces of the river and its diverse flora.

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The Water Taxi connects the Neuenheimer Feld and the Neckar Island with the university areas in the old centre of Heidelberg.

The Neckar Theatre, public beach and a terrace for open air events, bridges formally and symbolically the two sides of the river, city and university.

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The Bicycle Bridge is an extension of the ‘Wehrsteg’ on its east side to add a dedicated bicycle connection and facilitate crossing.

The northern landing is lengthened to provide level access for cyclists.

15 The Neckar Falls are a series of 6 terraces with a magnificent view over the Alt-Neckar on the western ‘Wehrsteg’ side.

16 The Zoo-Satellite is an outlet of the zoo — for example an aviary with exotic birds — next to the southern Wehrsteg landing, transporting the Zoo to the city.

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The Glasshouse Patchwork proliferates the glass house structures found in the botanical garden as a architectural identity for the university on the riverfront. The transparent structure creates a campus for all seasons, including student centre, study rooms, and community functions.

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The Diversity Hills are planted as a collection of native dry meadows serving as part of a system of connected habitats.

These native landscapes offer a satellite of the Botanical garden and mark the separation of the promenade and bikeline.

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The Biodiversity Centre offers a new entrance to the Zoo and ties it and the Botanical Garden together. The public roof cafeteria is accessible via the diversity hills which slope towards the rock-like building.

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The Aviary Passage is an elevated walkway which folds through the aviaries and savanna sceneries, offering surprising perspectives to the animals on different levels.

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The Neckar Loop provides a panorama over the Alt-Neckar’s islands native habitat and vegetation without disturbing the sensible habitat.

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The Giraffe Walk creates an eye-to-eye confrontation with the giraffes of the zoo and links the zoo extension to the existing path network.

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The Amazon allows to witness the emulated Amazon’s habitat above and below water level.

The Team: Cityförster is an international network consisting of eleven designers, architects and urbanists. Martin Sobota is head of the Rotterdam branch of the network. Cityförster deals with the city in all its dimensions and scales — a complex system which functions by the variety and interaction of its components. Based on pragmatic and subtle strategies Cityförster compiles innovative projects aiming for a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development of the built environment.

Cityförster is engaged in various residential and mixed use developments in the Netherlands, Denmark, Albania and Germany, as well as a conversion strategy for Tegel airport in Berlin.

Uberbau (in the course of formation) is the Berlin-based practice of Ali Saad and Thomas Stellmach that specializes in research-based strategic urbanism, urban design and planning as well as architecture. Uberbau focuses on context, density, flexibility, mixed-use, phasing and transformability, which are the as prerequisites for any sustainable approach.

Uberbau will shape an urban vision for the future of Aleppo, the second biggest agglomeration in Syria, and is busy imagining the future of road infrastructure in Europe.

Marc Ryan is a landscape architect and urban designer who brings an acute understanding of the contemporary city with a focus on the relevance of landscape. He has evolved an integrated view of landscape and urbanism that reflects a synthesis between ecology, infrastructure, and public realm design a philosophy that is at the core of his work. Marc’s professional experience includes practice in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands where he has led diverse design teams and worked on large scale urban projects, often related to waterfront redevelopment.

Artur Borejszo is currently employed at Maxwan a+u in Rotterdam and specializes in computer-aided design and visualization. He works for Maxwan on various mixed use and residential projects in the UK, the Netherlands, and Lithuania.

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By Mai SAMAHA

INNOVATION IN ABU DHABI’S NEW HUB: THE HELIX HOTEL

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eeser Architecture, an internationally recognised firm, recently won an invited competition for a five-star luxury hotel in Zayed Bay in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Named the Helix Hotel for its staggered floor plates, it rests in the bay, partially floating in the water. The Zayed Bay will be setup as a comprehensive development built along a new road, and the site will in-

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clude office buildings as well as condominiums and retail along the water and the Helix will be the focal point of this new development.

Poised on the edge of the Persian Gulf, the hotel will feature a helical floor space which wraps unevenly around a central void. Though the void seems to offer unmitigated vi-

sibility, there are enclaves for private meetings and guest privacy.

Guests will be able to look up at, and down on, various public areas, including the rooftop deck with a glassbottomed swimming pool.

There are 208 guest rooms, every room has a slightly different view and the cork screw spiral design of

Sustainable Development

In the sub-lobby, a dynamic glass wall will be built from the base of the second floor down into the water.

The wall acts as a curtain would, opening when the weather is cool enough and closing when it is too hot for exposure to the desert air.

the building keeps foot traffic flowing nicely from residential to retail and from saunas to hotel suites, It is designed so that one activity feeds into the next rather than affecting sharp separations between each activity.

or underneath the hotel, is situated instead under the bay. Cars are literally driven into the water. As guests make their way up to their suites, remarkable views out onto the Zayed Bay become even more dramatic on the upper floors.

On the luxury side of vacation culture, there are playful elements that make the hotel a designer destination in an iconic setting. From the outset, it is as much a showplace for the abundance of opulent life as it is a fully incorporated urban experience. For example, the building has a functional reverse fountain, which drops water from the ceiling down through the void to the lower lobby.

At the top of the Helix, the rooftop pool deck features a full sized swimming pool with a glass bottom, with the water and swimmers visible from eight floors below at ground level. In the restaurant below the lobby, the bay’s waves are so near to the floor plate that they lap up onto the edge of the restaurant inside of the glass curtain wall.

At the entry, valets drive clients’ cars into the car park, which, rather than being predictably aboveground

While focusing on unique design, Leeser Architecture is also committed to sound sustainability practices and worked with consultant Atelier

Ten to determine the best possible conditions and materials for heat and energy conservation that would suit the UAE’s climate in long term.

The interior temperature will be maintained by a retractable glass door which will allow cooling sea breezes to enter the building. In the sub-lobby, a dynamic glass wall will be built from the base of the second floor down into the water.

The wall acts as a curtain would, opening when the weather is cool enough and closing when it is too hot for exposure to the desert air.

Whilst an indoor functional reverse fountain drops water from the ceiling down through the void to the lower lobby allows for the accumulation of heat inside the hotel to be minimal by filtering cool water back up into the system as it falls Í 61

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Innovation in Abu Dhabi’s New Hub: The Helix Hotel

GROW employs thin film photovoltaics with piezoelectric generators and screen printed conductive ink encapsulated in ETFE fluoropolymer lamination.

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through the void this will also help to keep the interior cool and reduce humidity levels.

Portions of the outside surface will be clad in panels made of a new material called GROW, which has both photo voltaic and wind harnessing capabilities. These panels are made from 100% recyclable polyethylene that will be installed on the exterior and will collect energy from both the sun and the wind. (Polyethylene is a type of polymer that is classified as a thermoplastic, meaning that it can be melted to a liquid and remoulded as it returns to a solid state, it does not readily biodegrade but diligent recycling significantly reduces future problems).

The team at Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology (SMIT) des-

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igned the GROW panels with the environment in mind this was first realized as an Industrial Design Thesis project at Pratt Institute in Spring 2005 by Samuel Cabot Cochran.

GROW employs thin film photovoltaics with piezoelectric generators and screen printed conductive ink encapsulated in ETFE fluoropolymer lamination.

GROW is designed to utilize emerging technology of the photovoltaic and piezo industry. Based around a modular brick system, it is composed of a small number of different parts. Each brick has five solar leaves which have a very flexible piezo generator at their stem. The manufacturing of these bricks could happen in a roll to roll printing process where PV, conductive ink, and piezo generators can be

layered quickly and efficiently. The leaves are available in a variety of colors and opacities and are 100% recyclable. The various opacities of the leaves can be optimized for their heat gain, light transmission and view.

The rolls can then be stamped and formed to create leaves and connection points. Each brick is designed so that at the end of their life cycle the valuable components, i.e. photovoltaic and piezo, can be stamped out and up cycled while the reusable material, i.e plastic, can be up recycled back into the production stream.

The Helix Hotel project will be presented at the Cityscape developers’ conference in Abu Dhabi early next spring.

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A New Report For Valuing Biodiversity

UNDERSTANDING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY While the United Nations have declared 2010 as the year for biodiversity, the economic value of biological diversity is still poorly characterised. A new report highlights the key issues that need to be addressed in assigning values to ecosystems and the services they provide. The report outlines a new framework that will be developed for valuing biodiversity.

If we do not adopt the right policies, the current decline in biodiversity and the related loss of ecosystem services will continue and in some cases even accelerate.

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Biodiversity

T

he Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted in 1992 as an international agreement to conserve global biodiversity and share its benefits. Today, however, the value of biodiversity remains poorly understood and difficult to quantify, particularly in economic terms. This means that policymakers may lack some necessary information to make sound arguments for biodiversity conservation.

In 2007, the European Commission and German Federal Ministry for the Environment initiated a project to assess the global economic benefits of biological diversity. The aim of the project is to promote better understanding of the value of biodiversity for human health and welfare, and to give decision makers the tools to implement change. The recently published report provides an overview of progress made during the project’s first phase, in assigning value to 'ecosys-

tem services', which can include everything from food and clean water to natural flood barriers and diverse plant sources for obtaining live-saving drugs.

Key Issues: The report highlights three key issues in giving values to these services: Ecosystem services need to be better expressed in terms of their value to the poor. Those who depend directly on subsistence farming, fishing and informal forestry, for example, are at the greatest risk from biodiversity loss.

Economic models attribute a greater value to services that are available now than to the same services in the future. This creates an ethical dilemma that needs to be addressed, in that the value of ecosystems to our descendents could be grossly underestimated.

The value of ecosystem services, and different aspects of biodiversity, must be considered in relation to the

most relevant end users, who might be policy makers, commercial organisations or citizens.

A proposed valuation framework is also outlined. This focuses on 'world with' and 'world without' scenarios, so that comparisons can be made between, for instance, water quality with and without actions to tackle biodiversity loss. In the next phase of the project, researchers intend to develop this valuation strategy, with the long term aim of publishing a valuation toolkit for policymakers. The key preliminary findings and issues identified by the report will be addressed during the next stage of the project, Phase II, which will run until 2010 in order to develop clear recommendations for effective policies.

The authors state that large-scale policy reforms are needed to adequately protect and enhance biodiversity for future generations.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT

Understanding the economic value of biodiversity

Ecosystem Services Human well-being is dependent upon "ecosystem services" provided by nature for free, such as water and air purification, fisheries, timber and nutrient cycling. These are predominantly public goods with no markets and no prices, so their loss often is not detected by our current economic incentive system and can thus continue unabated. A variety of pressures resulting from population growth, changing diets, urbanization, climate change and many other factors is causing biodiversity to decline, and ecosystems are continuously being degraded. The world’s poor are most at risk from the continuing loss of biodiversity, as they are the ones that are most reliant on the ecosystem services that are being degraded. At the meeting of the environment ministers of the G8 coun-

tries and the five major newly industrializing countries that took place in Potsdam in March 2007, the German government proposed a study on 'The economic significance of the global loss of biological diversity' as part of the so-called 'Potsdam Initiative' for biodiversity.

Economics of Ecosystems Biodiversity (TEEB) The following wording was agreed at Potsdam: 'In a global study we will initiate the process of analyzing the global economic benefit of biological diversity, the costs of the loss of biodiversity and the failure to take protective measures versus the costs of effective conservation.'

This proposal was endorsed by G8+5 leaders at the Heiligendamm Summit on 6-8 June 2007.

With this in mind, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and the European Commission, with the support of several other partners, have jointly initiated preparatory work for this global study, which is named 'The Economics of Ecosystems & Biodiversity (TEEB)'. Mr Pavan Sukhdev, Managing Director and Head of Deutsche Bank’s Global Markets business in India, and a Founder-Director of the ‘Green Accounting for Indian States Project’, an initiative of the Green Indian States Trust (GIST) to set up an economic valuation and national accounting framework to measure sustainability for India, was appointed as the independent Study Leader. He is assisted in his task by an Advisory Board, which consists of prominent experts.

The study will evaluate the costs of the loss of biodiversity and the associated decline in ecosystem services worldwide, and compare them with the costs of effective conservation and sustainable use. It is intended that it will sharpen awareness of the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services and facilitate the development of costeffective policy responses, notably by preparing a 'valuation toolkit'.

TEEB is being conducted in two phases. Preliminary findings from the first phase have been presented by Minister Gabriel, Commissioner Dimas and Mr Pavan Sukhdev at the HighLevel Segment of the Ninth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP-9) in Bonn, Germany, in May 2008, in the form of an interim report, also available in French: rapport d'étape TEEB Phase I built on the work of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, which made significant progress in assessing current knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The TEEB interim report shows that if we do not adopt the right policies, the current decline in biodiversity and the

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Biodiversity

Current trends in the loss of ecosystem services on land and in the oceans demonstrate the severe dangers that biodiversity loss poses to human health and welfare.

related loss of ecosystem services will continue and in some cases even accelerate. Some ecosystems are likely to be damaged beyond repair. Current trends in the loss of ecosystem services on land and in the oceans demonstrate the severe dangers that biodiversity loss poses to human health and welfare. The interim report proposes a general framework for evaluating the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services that acknowledges that not all values of biodiversity can be measured in economic terms.

The second, more substantial, phase of the study is running in 2009 and 2010. The project is structured around one background report and several reports targeted towards specific groups of potential users of evaluation tools for biodiversity and ecosystem services. These reports will be compiled in a phased approach and published consecutively between autumn 2009

and autumn 2010. The final results will be presented at CBD COP-10 in 2010.

Preserving sandy beach ecosystems - the way forward The combined impacts of climate change and increasing population pressures on coastal areas for living and recreation have placed beach ecosystems under severe pressure. New research suggests efforts to preserve the biodiversity of sandy beach ecosystems should be undertaken within the framework of Integrated Coastal Management. The aim is to integrate the physical protection of coastlines with the conservation of threatened ecosystems. As key recreational sites, sandy beaches are of prime social, cultural and economic importance and dominate the world's coastlines. They also provide critical and irreplaceable ecosystem services and there is a growing recognition of the ecological value of beaches. However, current

beach management is largely concerned with managing sand budgets and erosion, while ecological aspects are rarely considered. Cooperation between beach managers and ecologists is therefore important, according to the researchers. They produced 50 'key statements' sumarising how essential features of sandy beach ecosystems function and are structured, which include defining the physical features of beaches, the functioning of beaches as ecosystems and incorporating the protection of beach ecosystems with wider management practices.

Climate Change Impact on Sandy Beaches The researchers suggest that climate change will have a significant impact on the ecology of sandy beaches. It is anticipated that climate change will affect the following: Sea levels - Average sea levels have risen by 0.17 metres in the last century

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Understanding the economic value of biodiversity

Local communities should be involved in biodiversity conservation as they can provide a source of in-depth local knowledge about the habitat preferences of different species.

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and there are more occurrences of damaging high seas during storms.

Continued loss of beaches will severely impact on coastal habitats and communities.

Extreme weather events - It is likely that changes in cyclone and storm behaviour will produce higher and more powerful waves, increasing beach erosion.

Precipitation - the pattern of precipitation is changing with more incidences of floods and altered freshwater flow to the oceans and this will affect the ecology of the beaches.

Changes in the ENSO (El-Ni単oSouthern Oscillation) events cause alterations to precipitation and this may affect beach ecosystems.

Within decades, acidification of the oceans will negatively affect marine organisms that need calcium carbonate to form shells, such as urchins and snails.

ment strategies for sandy beaches, which will help beach ecosystems withstand the pressures of climate change.

It is suggested that ecologists, managers and policy makers work together at all levels of decision making in implementing effective and enduring strategies to conserve coastal ecosystems.

There is also a need for further development of modelling techniques to study the impacts of climate change on beach ecology and to combine this with the effects that various management strategies will have on beach systems.

A further issue highlighted by the study are the special difficulties caused by tidal conditions for scientists trying to study beach organisms. The researchers have consequently produced a code of 'best practice' which contains 11 recommendations to help ecologists develop the most appropriate methods when collecting samples.

Four principles have been proposed by the researchers to integrate the ecological and physical aspects of manage-

Networking habitats to protect and enhance biodiversity Biodiversity is influenced by how dif-

ferent habitats within a given region are connected. A new project in the Alps has made initial progress in establishing an ecological network to promote and enhance biodiversity within Alpine regions. Additionally, the project aims to raise awareness among policymakers of the importance of ecological connectivity. The Alps are the largest natural region left in Europe and are therefore critically important to biodiversity. However, biodiversity in Alpine regions is threatened by intensive agriculture, pollution and climate change. As environmental policies affecting these regions are controlled not just by one government, but by seven, it is important for Alpine countries to work together and develop strategies for conserving biodiversity.

The project has made progress in establishing a joint methodology for protecting and enhancing biodiversity.

Connections between habitats, such as field ditches, rock piles, forest

Biodiversity edges and streams are important because they allow flora and fauna to move between different spaces, promoting exchange of genetic information between different populations of the same species. Small, isolated populations are less able to survive because they lack the genetic variability needed to adapt to changing conditions such as climate change or disease. These connections all help to strengthen an ecological network, but the cooperation of local authorities and land users, such as farmers and foresters, is required to keep these connecting elements in place.

The project consortium hopes to engage policymakers at local, national, regional and international levels in the importance of ecological networks for biodiversity. They are working closely with the Ecological Network Platform, the organisation set up under the Alpine Convention, to help achieve its goal of promoting and supporting ecological networks in Alpine regions. The platform's members include representatives from the governments of all Alpine nations.

In the first stage of the project, which has already been completed, experts assessed four different approaches to building ecological networks. The consortium plans to develop their joint methodology based on the outcomes of this assessment. During the early stages, four pilot regions were also established: The Salzburg cross-boundary region on the Germany-Austria border The French Departement Isère.

The Eastern Austrian region around the Kalkalpen and Gesäuse national parks.

The Italian Adige Valley and nearby protected areas in Switzerland and Austria.

As well as habitats that can be connected by relatively short passages, these areas cover large scale migration routes such as those for birds and bears. Pilot activities, which will begin in 2009, will involve the

creation of new ecological corridors and making sustainable land use agreements with land users. The Ecological Continuum Project is run by a consortium of four organisations: ALPARC (Alpine Network of Protected Areas), CIPRA (International Commission for the Protection of the Alps), ISCAR (International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps) and the Alpine Program of WWF.

Community involvement with forest management can boost biodiversity Forests can act as carbon sinks and help counteract climate change. A study of forestry practices in India shows that involving local communities in conservation efforts can boost the biodiversity and stability of forest ecosystems.

Community-based forest management policies may therefore represent valid carbon mitigation strategies. The EU aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20 per cent of 1990 levels by 20201. One way to help achieve this may be to increase the carbon storage potential of forests.

However, forest ecosystems are under threat from biodiversity loss caused by climate change and deforestation.

The EU's Biodiversity Action Plan, launched in 2006, called on member states to recognise the central role of biodiversity in reducing the impact of climate change and to develop programmes to conserve those species and habitats most at risk. Where possible, biodiversity programmes must be designed to increase community involvement in conservation.

In a recent study of forest management practices in India, it is stated that the ongoing community-based forest management (CBFM) programme could strengthen community livelihoods and avoid loss of biodiversity.

They could also help to vastly increase

the carbon storage potential of Indian forests. The study argues that CBFM of degraded (low carbon) forests to increase their potential carbon storage capacity should be formally recognised as a carbon mitigation strategy and accepted as a way for countries to earn carbon credits.

Conserving a diverse range of species is important because it increases the chance that enough will survive to form the basis of a stable, healthy ecosystem - meaning that, theoretically, at least some species will be able to adapt to their changing environment.

Previous research has demonstrated that ecosystems containing higher numbers of different species are more resistant to extreme environmental conditions.

The study suggests that local communities should be involved in biodiversity conservation as they can provide a source of in-depth local knowledge about the habitat preferences of different species. Communities may also be keen to be involved in forest management to gain access to various nontimber products, including valuable resources such as fruits, fodder and handicraft materials which can help alleviate poverty.

CBFM could represent a viable strategy for increasing the carbon storage potential and economic value of forests, particularly in poor countries. It is predicted that emissions from rapidly developing countries such as India will soon begin to counteract the achievements of developed countries in reducing their carbon emissions. As emissions increase due to energy consumption in these countries, other strategies will need to be employed to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Forests as carbon sinks may therefore prove to be valuable resources.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/iczm/ http://ec.europa.eu/climateaction/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/knowledge/rep_biodiv_ap/index_en.htm http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/index.php/the-ecological-continuum-project www.alpine-ecological-network.org

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THE EVICTION OF MAASAI PASTORALISTS FROM THE NGORONGO CONSERVATION AREA “The Maasai are above all cattle people; their herds are central to their lives”.

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Biodiversity

M

osses Ndiyaine Olendorosa registered as a member with the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous People in June 2007, as representative of a population of 60,000 Indigenous pastoralists of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania.

Other members representing the Maasai from different parts of East Africa, include the Center for Minority Rights Development, Ilkisongo Pastoralist Initiatives (IPI) (Tanzania), Indigenous Heartland Operation, Kenya Livestock Marketing Council, the Naadutaro Pastoralists surviving Option and the Pastoralists Development Network of Kenya. The Maasai have a common language called Maa.

T he case of the Maasai pastoralists of Ngorongoro is very similar to mobile pastoralists’ world over. Extensive quotes from various reports have been taken to analyze the prevailing conflict between indigenous people and conservation of Protected Areas.

The most recent violation of the rights of the Maasai to sustainable livelihood has been dealt by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) of the IUCN. Based on their report of the reactive monitoring mission to the World Heritage Committee in April-May 2007, 1700 Maasai people and 20,000 cattle were forcibly evicted from the Ngorongoro Protected Area in August 2008.

led for meat only on special occasions.

Their old ideal was to live by their cattle alone – other foods they could buy – but today they also need to grow grain and other crops.

They move their herds from one place to another to find fresh water sources, and to give the grass a chance to grow again.

Traditionally, this is made possible by a communal land tenure system in which everyone in a locality shares access to water and pasture. However, individuals are obliged to respect private water points and grazing grounds where each household cares for its young and sick animals. In times of drought the Maasai of a given locality will allow others, including non-Maasai groups, to enter their lands, because they know that at another time they might themselves be in need of access to others' land to sustain their herds.”

Six of Kenya and Tanzania's national parks alone cover more than 13,000 square kilometres of what was once Maasailand.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area or NCA is a conservation area situated 180 km (112 miles) west of Arusha in the Crater Highlands area of Tanzania. The conservation area is administered by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, an arm of the Tanzanian government, and its boundaries follow the boundary of the Ngorongoro Division of Ngorongoro District. It covers an area of 8,288 km² (3,200 square miles) about the size of Crete. The Ngorongoro area originally was part of the Serengeti National Park when it was created by the British in 1951. Maasai

The Maasai are an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania.

The Maasai population has been variously estimated as "approaching" 900.000.

“The Maasai are above all cattle people; their herds are central to their lives. They also keep sheep and goats, and donkeys for transport. Milk is their everyday food, and in times when food is scarce they also draw blood to drink from the neck of a cow or an ox (a procedure from which the animal soon recovers). Cattle are kil71

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The eviction of Maasai Pastoralists from the Ngorongo Conservation Area

continued to live in the newly created park until 1959, when repeated conflicts with park authorities over land use led the British to evict them to the newly declared Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In a deal reminiscent of the treaties made and broken with the indigenous peoples of North America a hundred years earlier, the colonialists persuaded the Maasai to evacuate the Serengeti. By way of compensation they were offered refuge in the Ngorongoro highlands, already occupied by fellow Maasai, where they would be provided with water supply works.

The Maasai, in all these dealings, lost the best dry-season rangeland i their area to the benefit of all the wildlife among which they had lived for so many years.

The Governor of Tanganyika said in a speech to the Maasai Federal Council in 1959:

"I should like to make it clear to you all that it is the intention of the Government to develop the Crater in the interests of the people who use it. At the same time, the Government intends to protect the game animals in the area, but should there be any conflict between the interests of the game and the human inhabitants, those of the latter must take precedence".

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) was a consolation for the Maasai for having lost the Serengeti. But

it was also an interesting experiment, somewhat ahead of its time, foreshadowing today's buffer zones around protected areas. The intention was to manage the NCA as a multiple use area with the dual objective of conserving wildlife and preserving the Maasai's pastoral way of life.

Administration of the NCA was in 1975 assigned to an autonomous parastatal, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), with sweeping powers to manage and regulate land use in the NCA. The dual mandate to both preserve nature and at the same time service the residents' interests is established in law since 1975 by way of an amendment to the original Ordinances stipulating that the NCAA shall be obliged "to safeguard and promote the interests of Maasai citizens".

The area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and has been classified as a Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO. The description of Ngorongoro in the UNESCO World Heritage Citation reads as follows:

“Immense concentrations of wild animals live in the huge and perfect crater of Ngorongoro. It is home to a small relict population of black rhinoceros and some 25,000 other large animals, largely ungulates, alongside the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa. Nearby are lake-

The World Heritage Committee website of the UNESCO gives the date and history of establishment of the Ngorongoro World Heritage Site as follows:

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1928 |

Hunting in the area prohibited

1929 |

Serengeti Game Reserve created (228,600ha)

1951 |

Ngorongoro made part of the new Serengeti National Park

1959 |

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) established by Ordinance # 413 to accommodate the existing Maasai pastoralists

1975 |

The Ordinance redefined by the Game Parks Law Act # 14 to prohibit cultivation in the crater

1981 |

Internationally recognised as a part of Serengeti-Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve

1985 |

The Ngorongoro Conservation & Development Program initiated by the government.

filled Empakaai crater and the active volcano of Oldonyo Lenga. Excavations carried out in the Oldupai Gorge to the west, resulted in discoveries which have made the area one of the most important in the world for research on the evolution of the human species.� [UNESCO WHC] What has not been mentioned is the eviction of the Masaai in 1959 and severe limitation of their right to livelihood through the ordinance in 1975.

Six of Kenya and Tanzania's national parks alone cover more than 13,000 square kilometres of what was once Maasailand.

The prevailing attitude towards the indigenous community is captured in the following statement about the local human population: The Maasai, nomadic cattle herders, entered the crater around 1840. Since the multi-use protection of the area was proposed in 1959, the population of the area has exploded beyond the numbers of cattle able to support it without farming, aggravating tensions with the conservation-oriented administration. In 1966 there were 8,700 people in the NCA. In 1994, the Natural Peoples World estimated the Maasai population at about 40,000 (one quarter of those living in Tanzania), with some 300,000 head of livestock which graze approximately 70-75% of the conservation area. But mobile pastoralists are difficult to count, and Leader-Williams et al. in 1996 put the figure at 26,000 pastoralists with 285,000 head of cattle. Since their eviction by the NCAA in 1974, there are no inhabitants in Ngorongoro and Empakaai Craters or the forest. (Na-

Biodiversity tional Park Service). In general, livestock numbers are declining and the Maasai are growing poorer.

The fact file on tourism in the WHC management plan reads as follows: The spectacular wildlife, geology and archaeology of Ngorongoro-Serengeti are major African tourist attractions spread across an area the size of Rwanda or Sicily. About 24% of all tourists visiting the parks of northern Tanzania stop at Ngorongoro.

These totalled 35,130 in 1983, 140,000 in 1989 in at least 30,000 vehicles and, according to the Chief Conservator, there were between 1998 and 2001, 562,205 visitors of whom 202,957 (36%) were Tanzanian. The damage inflicted by these numbers is considerable. There are four lodges on the crater rim and one at Lake Ndutu on the edge of Serengeti. Vehicles and guides can be hired from the Conservation Authority to enter the crater. There is an interpretive centre at the Lodoare entrance and another at Oldupai, which focuses on the interpretation of the Gorge and its excavations. An information centre to promote wildlife tourism to local Tanzanians was opened in Arusha in 2002.

However, a study by the University of Michigan has reported as follows:

“Like the British, the new government of Kenya realized how important the wildlife and natural areas of Kenya were.

However, their focus was more on the economic opportunities that existed in conserving the natural areas. Their goal was to have one million tourists by 1990.

They, too, saw the indigenous communities as threats to the land and wildlife, and since they needed these two commodities in order to obtain the growth they aspired to gain, the people living among them had to be confined.

With the appointment of Richard Leakey to the Kenya Wildlife Service in 1989 came a tight anti-poaching and hunting regime. Park guards were instructed to "shoot to kill." Over 100 poachers were 73

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The eviction of Maasai Pastoralists from the Ngorongo Conservation Area

killed in the first two years of Leaky’s and the KWS’s existence. This practice was occurring in many other places, including Togo, West Africa. There was considerable controversy over this, and Leakey was forced to resign in 1993. His successor was David Western, whose ideology included participatory conservation and cooperative problem resolution, which has helped to alleviate some of the current management problems in the parks.”

At the heart of the problem lies the policy of land privatization. As the

“Environmental Justice Case Study: Maasai land rights in Kenya and Tanzania”

by Julie Narimatsu (Univ. of Michigan) has stated in its report,“ Land privatization became popular among a few "progressive" Maasai because of the land security it provided. The government began the practice of group ranches, in which a group of people owned a piece of land. The owners

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could move around only within this area, and others were prohibited to graze within these areas. The intent, on the government’s part, was to lower the numbers of the Maasai herds while providing meat for the rest of the country and the world. It was, thus, transforming the Maasai from a subsistence way of life to a more commercial way of life. The Maasai were highly influenced by the "Lawrence Report," a government document expressing the benefits of privatization and by the World Bank, which encouraged privatization.

Two events have played into the environmental injustices that have occurred among the Maasai people. First, the Maasai lost considerable rangeland to the rich, white British colonists in the early part of their history, and it is unknown whether or not the land they were left with can sustain the remaining population. Second, to keep their parks desirable to tourists by preserving the wildlife, the governments restricted the Maasai to small parcels of land, which is not compatible with a pastoral way of life.

Privatization, however, was not an ideal substitution for the traditional migration that was so compatible with the land. While the Maasai did compete with the wildlife, it was not so significant for it to be damaging. Privatization concentrated their livelihood to a restricted piece of land, thus contributing to "unsustainable ecology."

In a survey conducted among 14 ranches in the Kaputiei area, only 6 pieces of land had adequate dry-season rangeland to be self-contained entities.

It is ironic that while the government is blaming Maasai overgrazing on park degradation, they are encouraging unsustainable practices by restricting them from migrating.”

Biodiversity

The most recent violation of the rights of the Maasai to sustainable livelihood has been dealt by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) of the IUCN. Based on their report of the reactive monitoring mission to the World Heritage Committee in April-May 2007, 1700 Maasai people and 20,000 cattle were forcibly evicted from the Ngorongoro Protected Area in August 2008.

The report submitted by David Sheppard, Head of the programme on Protected Areas (WCPA-IUCN) and Josephine Langley, World Heritage Monitoring Officer, Programme on Protected Atreas in April –June 2007 has made the following recommendations:

The Mission Team supports the process for encouraging voluntary relocation of the immigrant population and recommends that the process of voluntary relocation of the immigrant population to identified areas outside the property be completed by June 2008. (R2) The Mission Team notes the importance of clearly defining human use carrying capacity for the conservation area and recommends that the census and study of carrying capacity within the conservation area be implemented as quickly as possible, and completed by no later than June 2008. This carrying capacity should be based on both the needs of the Maasai population and an assessment of the ecological impact of human populations on the ecology of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Based on the recommendations of the report, the NCAA has evicted 1700 people and 200,000 cattle, in August 2008.

The Maasai community were certainly not consulted prior to the decision and were in fact coerced and threatened. It is recognized that this eviction is against the statues of the IUCN and needs to be investigated for the circumstances leading to the decision.

“The Maasai peoples’ lives in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, however, have been worsening. Livestock numbers have decreased due to disease and increases in sales. They have had to turn to subsistence cultivation over the protests of conservationists who are against cultivation (Neumann). Tourism has increased, but they have not seen any of the benefits from this imposition. In 1994, the NCAA, in conjunction with the World Conservation Union (IUCN), developed a General Management Plan, or GMP. This 116-page document describes the process of separating the endangered rhino and other wildlife residing in the NCA from the Maasai (Wambui). In contrast to the previous history of interaction with the Maasai people, this plan was going to be completed in a participatory manner. According to Paul Mshanga, the Chief Manager of the NCAA Tourism Department, "We realized that the traditional top-down approach to protected area management was not going to work. Since 1965, two management plans were formulated for the area but did not take off because the rights and obligations of the local people were not addressed (Our voices)."

The GMP, however, was implemented despite protests from the Maasai. After a short period in which the Maasai were to comment, the IUCN and NCAA made the decision to adopt it, although most of the community disliked or did not understand the GMP (Our voices). The Ngorongoro Pastoralist Survivalist Trust, a local com-

munity group, among many other international NGOs, are assisting the Maasai in this fight for land rights.

“This most recent blatant disregard for the Maasai people is an example of all the Maasai have endured over the course of their history, beginning with the British colonization.

They have not only interacted with the land and wildlife for thousands of years, but they have done so sustainably. While the government accuses the Maasai of overgrazing, studies show that, in fact, these pastoralists are very efficient livestock producers, and, rarely, do they keep more animals than they need or the land can sustain. Yet, their long history has been wrought with land rights injustices designed to benefit the wildlife and ecosystems, making the parks and reserves more attractive to the tourism industry and the rich tourists. Six of Kenya and Tanzania’s national parks alone have required the removal of the Maasai from 13,000 square kilometers of land. It has been mostly the blame of the government, whose priorities lie in valuing the dollar that is generated by tourism and wildlife parks above the interests of its people.”

The resolution adopted by the IUCN General assembly in Barcelona on Indigenous peoples rights and conservation needs be followed in concept and content to make amendments through restitution of the lands of the Maasai people, with adequate compensation and assurances that such a move will not occur in future.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: www.forestpeople.org

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By Gabriella PORILLI

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EUROPEANS COME TOGETHER IN SUPPORT OF

A STRONGER EU SHARK FINNING BAN T he Shark Alliance, a coalition of 76 organisations worldwide, initiated and co-ordinated by the Pew Environment Group, marked the end of European Shark Week (ESW), by

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urging European fisheries ministers to respond to public calls for a stronger EU prohibition of shark “finning,” the wasteful practice of slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea.

“The large numbers of events and participants in European Shark Week illustrates the growing desire for greater shark conservation,” said Uta Bellion, director of the Pew

Biodiversity

The EU finning ban is among the weakest in the world. An EU Shark Plan, adopted by the European Commission and endorsed by EU Member States earlier this year, sets the stage for vast improvements in shark policies, including the finning ban. Follow up action, however, is urgently needed to ensure that the plan is effective and avoids any further damage.

Environment Group’s European Marine Programme and European Co-ordinator for the Shark Alliance.

“I am confident that the outpouring of public support will convince policymakers to move swiftly with their intent to strengthen the EU finning ban.”

European Shark Week: 10th -18th October The third annual ESW, supported by the Save Our Seas Foundation, saw aquariums, dive groups and conservation organisations in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Malta, Spain, France, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Poland, the Netherlands, Ireland and Portugal hosting more than 300 events.

Roughly 30,000 people have already signed the European Shark Week petition calling on José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain, to take the courageous step of becoming a leader in shark conservation. Spain is Europe’s top shark fishing nation and ranks fourth in the world. Coupled with its forthcoming January takeover of the EU presidency, it is a leading force in the formulation of EU shark policy.

The Spanish government has recently taken positive steps to protect some threatened species of sharks, but remains the principal obstacle to an effective EU finning ban. Spain is one of only three EU countries to issue special permits

that allow fishermen to remove shark fins at sea through a derogation of the existing EU shark finning ban.

As part of European Shark Week activities in Spain, Ecologistas en Acción launched an eight week Diosa Maat sailing boat tour around the Spanish coast and the Balearic Islands to raise awareness amongst Spanish citizens of the pressing need for shark conservation measures. The Diosa Maat completed its journey on October 16th 2009 by mooring in the port of Barcelona.

The End of the Line: Barcelona and Stockholm screenings during ESW. The end of ESW was also marked with

Í

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a stronger EU shark finning ban

Sharks and related rays are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because they generally grow slowly, mature late and produce few young. Most European populations of sharks and rays are overfished and one-third are threatened with extinction. Despite these grave statistics, most EU shark and ray fishing remains unregulated and scientific advice for catch limits is rarely heeded

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a series of Pew Environment Groupsponsored special screenings of the The End of the Line, the criticallyacclaimed documentary film that reveals the devastating impact of overfishing in the world’s oceans.

Filmed over two years with footage gathered from around the world, The End of the Line follows the UK-based investigative reporter Charles Clover as he exposes the extent to which overfishing has contributed to what has been described as “the greatest environmental disaster that people

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haven't heard about.” The Swedish premier of the film was held in midOctober at the Swedish Museum of Natural History and in conjunction with the 2009 FISHBASE Symposium.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion with Charles Clover and representatives from WWF Sweden, the Pew Environment Group and Greenpeace who discussed: ¯ The current issues around overfishing at national and regional levels; ¯ The opportunities the Swedish EU Presidency can seize to improve European fisheries;

¯ The species composition of the Baltic Sea and beyond, and how it is changing significantly; ¯ The opportunities presented by the Common Fisheries Policy reform.

Commenting on the film and the state of fisheries in the Baltic region, Lasse Gustavsson, CEO of WWF Sweden said, “it is crucial to prevent discards, reduce by-catch, combat illegal fishing and to establish sustainable fish stocks and fishing in the Baltic Sea. Therefore, WWF calls for transparency in the control system. We must be able to trace fish from ‘boat to plate’.

We see an increased demand for certified fish products as consumers want sustainably caught fish from the Baltic.”

Overfishing of cod and other fish stocks in the Baltic Sea, Kattegat, Skagerrak and the North Sea has lead to a squandering of these once plentiful resources.

Biodiversity “EU fish and marine habitats belong to all Europeans. Overfishing is threatening the very basis upon which fishing communities and the health of our oceans depend. It is vital that Europeans seize the opportunity of contributing to the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy,” said Uta Bellion, director of the Pew Environment Group’s European Marine Programme.

Pew recently initiated OCEAN2012, a coalition dedicated to transforming European fisheries, which is open to all organisations who share the vision of healthy oceans where abundant fish and wildlife contribute to human well-being.

“The Commission is asking EU citizens for their views on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. OCEAN2012 will make sure these views are heard,” continued Bellion.

Charles Clover Author of The End of the Line The critically-acclaimed documentary film that reveals the devastating impact of overfishing in the world’s oceans.

Charles Clover is a journalist and author. He was Environment Editor of The Daily Telegraph, based in London, from 1988-2008 and still writes the Earthlog column for the paper.

He also conceived the Telegraph Earth website and developed it with a small, talented team of other journalists.

He has been elected national journalist of the year by the British Environment and Media Awards three times, in 1989, 1994 and 1996.

He was co-author with the Prince of Wales of Highgrove: Portrait of an Estate, (1993) a best-selling study of Prince Charles's conversion to organic farming and gardening and a clarion call for sustainable farming.

His book The End of the Line: how over-fishing is changing the world and what we eat (Ebury 2004), has been described as the definitive book on over-fishing.

It won the Guild of Food Writers' Derek Cooper Award for investigative food writing, an Andre Simon award for food writing and the Zoological Society of London's BIOSIS award for communicating zoology.

So far it has been translated into Japanese, Dutch, German, Italian and French. The US edition was published in November 2006.

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By Elsa SATTOUT

SNAPSHOTS ON 18 MONTHS

OF ACHIEVEMENTS AFD/FFEM Project “Appui Aux Réserves Naturelles du Liban”

A

fter 18 months of project's launching, we are coming back to you as faithful readers of WE Magazine to highlight records of our partners' achievements.

The project, funded by the French Global Environmental Facility and the French Agency for Development, was conceived and is being implemented to strengthen national local systems, structures and tools adopted and used in nature protection in Lebanese protected sites. The project ought to the execution of adaptive management strategies in nature reserves taking into consideration four thematic areas: biodiversity protection and management as well as development of economic, social and cultural aspects of biodiversity in six out of eight nature reserves in Lebanon. A cross-cut-

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ting component comes to benefit all reserves. The project provides full support for the implementation of awareness campaign and environmental education activities. The activities complement each other integrating the promotion of nature based activities and programmes:

1 2 3

Protecting nature.

Linking communities at local and national level.

Leveraging the social and economical aspects of protected sites in Lebanon.

The six protected sites are: Arz El Shouf, Horsh Ehden, Tannourine reserve, Bentael reserve, Tyre Coast and Wetlands of Kfar Zabad...

Connecting lines between project's partners Cross-cutting component has established a platform to gather all project partners and other Lebanese protected sites to promote the value and services of the reserves in national forum and exhibitions and seed thoughts on the importance of biodiversity protection and sustainable management of natural resources. This crossing line of activities is drawing paths for a more sustainable protected areas network; if well managed after the project ends. The project has developed 3 themes to benefit the protected sites and reserves: Building-up a strong database and establishment of an Interactive Platform have been launched effectively.

Lebanese Network of Protected Areas [LNPAs] website is online for both English and French internet surfers. The

Biodiversity

have been supported for workshop and training abroad.

In the scope of Initiating the promotion of the Lebanese Network of Protected Areas, Tyre Coast Nature Reserve, Al-Shouf Nature Reserve and the Hima of Kfar Zabad celebrated March 11, as a land mark of the National Protected Areas Day. Participating in international and national forums and exhibitions, among which the AWTTE and the Garden Show, has brought new insights to management teams.

Ă?

Records of Achievements Tyre Coast Nature Reserve website was designed as an information hub for all Lebanese protected sites and nature reserves. A Project's newsletter is produced to promote nature reserves among national communities.

Investing in human capacities figures on the project agenda through the development and strengthening of new skills of the PAs staff where most of the affiliated project's partners

In preparation of the central flora and fauna database that will be hosted at the LNPAs databank, the implementation of the Integrated Flora Monitoring programme developed under the MedWet Coast project was launched.

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Snapshots on 18 months of Achievements

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Data on specific plant species and biodiversity indices was collected. A new stepping stone has been put on TCNR seashores in spring 2009 preparing the ground for the execution of a birds’ monitoring section. In that light, a bird monitoring and identification workshop was organized onsite in cooperation with ARocha Lebanon.

Sea Turtles monitoring has been initiated as well. The protection of the conservation zone has been supported through the installment of fences to prevent the core area of the reserves from any hazardous effects arising from trespassing, bird hunting, trash disposal, grazing, and other forms of violations.

Another aspect of conservation and development was to adapt an integrated farming approach to set the ground for demonstration plots for “Best Agricultural Practices” in Ras El Ain. The new approach aims at protecting the fresh water sources of the area from the residual pollution caused by pesticides and fertilizers that the farmers use. Following up on the execution of the management plan, an ecological visitor center designed under the MedWet Coast project was launched in June 2009.

TCNR involved many donors in the co-funding of the construction other than FFEM/AFD project. An awareness campaign targeting students and local community living in the suburb of the reserve, in schools and in the Palestinian camps of Rashidyeh and Bass was launched. It aimed at integrating the local community of Tyre in the conservation and development activities of the reserve, by raising youngsters' and adults' awareness about global and local critical environmental issues, making them acquainted about TCNR and its importance and involving them in the conservation and wildlife protection goals.

Bentael Nature Reserve Putting up the major pillars for a better management and protection of Bentael reserve was the target of the project. The project strengthened the Í 82

An awareness campaign targeting students and local community living in the suburb of the Tyre reserve, was launched It aimed at integrating the local community in the conservation and development activities of the reserve.

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administrative infrastructure as well as the biodiversity protection and management structures through the provision of office equipments and the installment of a watchtower and the acquisition of a tank and necessary equipments supporting the management teams in forest fire's fighting. The surveys of flora and fauna species started with a design of an assessment of insects' species. A watchtower was installed in light of forest fire prevention and biodiversity monitoring.

Clear cutting operation begun last summer. It is scheduled over the coming 2 years. Outreach materials have been produced. The rehabilitation of an existing hut on the main entrances began early on December 2009 to accommodate visitors.

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Shouf Biosphere Reserve Biodiversity management and protection was boosted through the support provided for the management team of the Reserve at the financial, administrative and technical levels. The reserve team acquired the needed materials and equipment to implement the “Integrated Monitoring Plan� developed in close cooperation with several national and international biodiversity experts.

Strengthening the infrastructure of the reserve was supported through the acquisition and rehabilitation of 200 years old House in Maasser village, the rehabilitation of an information center for the Reserve in Niha village and ensuring facilities for the visitors of Niha fort as well as renovation of Baadaran Workshop for the women involved in rural development program in the

Reserve. Promoting the reserve at national level was done through the development of a new eco-tourism package for Niha village in the southern sector of the reserve and marketing of traditional and local products. On the other hand, awareness campaign on native trees in Lebanon and a Rally for Nature were organized and executed in schools located in villages surrounding the reserve.

Tannourine Cedar Forest Nature Reserve Timing of the project was an important event in Tannourine. Conceiving a Research & Guest Center was triggered by the available budget from the French project. The construction of the House of the Reserve as a unique research and guest house will support

Biodiversity

the reserve in playing a leading role in terms of establishing a hub for scientific databases and guided eco-tourism activities. The designs of the house as well as the preparation and the acquisition of the land have been completed. In preparation for social development, a socio economic study

tackling different projects that will involve the rural community and the owners of the lands in the vicinity of the nature reserve is under development. Meanwhile, the project allowed the continuation of the implementation of insects monitoring program set to prevent and predict any future outbreak.

Following up on flora and fauna assessment, the mushrooms in the reserve were surveyed. The study will allow the identification of species found in cedar ecosystem; thus providing the basics for any monitoring and protection program amid the global changes. Developing capacities on bird monitoring was done through a joint workshop conducted in collaboration with TCNR. Though, continuous monitoring of biodiversity

Project Focal Points: Dalia Al Jawhary: Hima of Kfar Zabad Wetlands Raymond El Khoury: Bentael Nature Reserve Nizar Hani: Shouf Biosphere Reserve Nahed Msayleb: Tyre Coast Nature Reserve Nabil Nemer: Tannourine Forest Nature Reserve Sandra Saba: Horsh Ehden Reserve. Ă?

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Biodiversity Í

is ensured by the project through the provision of funds for the acquisition of basic equipments. Strengthening the eco-tourism infrastructure was made through the rehabilitation of guesthouses generally known as bed and breakfast. So far, two households have benefited from this component and the number of people that have used these facilities was over 110 tourists during the summer of 2009. Women also have benefited from a workshop dealing with the marketing and the legal aspects of the establishment of a women cooperative which will be established very soon.

sitor center was executed and the renovation plan figures on the list shortterm plan of activities. Promoting environmental awareness is ensured through the development of an educational program integrating the biodiversity value of the site. The plan concentrates on developing an educational hub in Kfar Zabad visitor center.

Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve

Boosting biodiversity protection and management has been supported through various activities in Horsh Ehden Reserve. The construction of two huts in Jafieh and in Ain ElBayada will ensure Hima of Kfar Promoting environmental the daily monitoZabad ring and control of Initiating the estaawareness is ensured the fire risk in the blishment of a flora through the development reserve, monitoring and fauna database of an educational of birds as well as ilfor the wetlands is program integrating legal activities talaunched through the biodiversity value king place in the the assessment of of the site. reserve and its bufbirds and plant fer zone. The prospecies as well as ject provides also the development equipments for fire of long-term moniprevention and intervention. The estatoring plans. Since May 2009, a bird blishment of a local herbarium and surmonitoring program is being impleveying of mushrooms were launched mented to expose the value of the in 2009 providing a major flora dawetlands and to reflect the impacts of tabase for site management. Faiththe rehabilitation activities which took ful to its core mission, the reserve place previously as a part of the Swiss sets among its main objectives the Development Cooperation project. development of an environmental education (EE) programmes and esThe knowledge gained through this tablishment of EE platforms for kids. program will be transferred to the site The design of the concept of an edumanagement unit and to local commucational trail and the development of nities where a bird monitoring manual its plan aim at preparing the ground will be developed. On the other hand, for receiving scholars and other caflora monitoring program, launched in tegories of nature lovers and expeOctober 2009, will emphasize on the ditors to explore the beauty and role of local communities in managerichness of the reserve as well as to ment through the development of promote EE among local and natiolocal capacities. A user friendly flora nal schools. manual will be developed in that scope. In the same line, a general assessment of the status of the site, Another 18 months to come based on RAMSAR criteria for wetland We are looking for a busy period of 15 management, was developed aiming months to come before wrapping up to serve the development of a manaof the project. gement plan. Preparing the ground for eco-tourism and environmental awaElsa Sattout is the Chief of Project for AFD/FFEM reness activities, the design for the vi“Appui Aux Réserves Naturelles du Liban” 87

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LAUNCHING OF THE PROGRAM OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT IN LEBANON FOR 2010-2012 IN COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS: CIVIL BODIES, TRADE UNIONS, EDUCATIONAL, ACADEMIC, MEDIA, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

Lebanon's participation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. In this picture (from left to right): Mohammad Khalife (Minister of Health), Mohammad Rahhal (Minister of Environment), Saad Hariri (Prime Minister), and Gebran Bassil (Minister of Energy and Water).

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he Ministry of Environment in Lebanon has recently announced a new program that should protect the right of the citizens to a clean environment through the following principles:

¯ Sustainable development ¯ Protection through prevention ¯ Fining the polluter 88

¯ Stimulating investments in environmentally feasible projects ¯ Introducing environmental concepts in all project policies and development strategies The Ministry’s work program for the next three years will be in coordination and partnership with relevant stakeholders from public and private sectors. It will

focus on respecting the treaties, protocols and international environmental conventions concluded by the Lebanese government through the implementation of the following ten themes:

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Strengthening environmental inspection and enforcement of laws and regulations;

In partnership with the Ministry of

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Justice, Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, and the Ministry of Finance To issue the draft decrees and their implementation decisions for the basic Environmental Protection Law (Law No. 444, date 29/7/2002) and Decree 2275/2009, for example, a draft decree on environmental impact assessment of projects, a draft decree

on strategic environmental assessment of policies, plans, programs and their implementation decrees.

Identify the best means to enhance the environmental inspection and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations on the basis of the following legal texts: "The issuance of a system of environmental legislation and its application in Lebanon - 2004",

"the reality of environmental jurisprudence in Lebanon - 2008" (expected very soon), review of the Licensing mechanisms for all development projects, and / or activation of environmental monitoring, and/or issuance of the draft decree mentioned in law 690/2005 and Decree 2275/2009, and/or follow-up studies on the environmental reforms, etc.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT Program of the Ministry of Environment of Lebanon for the years 2010-2012

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Adapting the impacts of climate change on natural resources

In partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Water, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, and the Ministry of Industry Activating the role of the Ministry of the Environment as the national Authority to follow-up to the Kyoto Protocol under the Framework of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, specifically in terms of promoting projects under the clean development mechanism in all sectors (energy, industry, transportation, etc.).

Development of projects regarding the adaptation to the impacts of climate change on natural resources, in particular water resources, in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

Transforming the Ministry of Environment into a Carbon Neutral Foundation.

Urge the monitoring of the quantity and quality of water resources (including snow).

Developing the concept of pollution control ponds by adopting a Pilot Project in Qaraoun Lake.

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Fighting air pollution

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In partnership with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Ministry of Energy and Water, Ministry of Industry, and Ministry of Finance Work on the legalization of air qua-

lity management.

Review the specifications and standards for air pollutants (Minister decision # 52/1-1996 and # 8 / 1 - 2001) and adjust them where necessary.

Improve the process of continuous measurement of air quality and access to this information, especially in areas vulnerable to pollution.

Improve the public transport sector and encourage its usage, such as replacing the current fleet of taxis with Hybrid cars to improve energy efficiency.

Activate the environmental audit, and make it mandatory for industrial establishments existing within the first and second categories, in terms of reduction of all pollutants, particularly air resulting from the manufacturing sector.

Continuous support to the Ministry of Energy and Water in implementing its initiatives to provide energy use and promote renewable energy, specifically the commitment made by Lebanon in the Copenhagen Summit to develop a national road map aims to

The Ministry’s new program will focus on respecting the treaties, protocols and international environmental conventions concluded by the Lebanese Government

secure about 12% of Lebanon's request for energy from renewable energy sources by the year 2020; and work on identifying the National Air Atlas as a first step in encouraging the private sector to invest in renewable energies.

Follow-up work on disposing materials depleting the Ozone Layer and the proper application of the content of Decree 2604/2009 on "Control of Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer".

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Sustainable management of land and soil

In partnership with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Energy and Water, and Ministry of Agriculture Legalization of the sustainable management of the quarries.

Preside over the Quarries National Council and the implementation of the master plan in all its details, and adjust it where necessary.

Rehabilitate quarry sites that ceased to operate.

Introducing environmental concepts to all charts guidelines to reduce the deterioration of mountain and coastal areas - including Maritime public property projects.

Limit the degradation of coastal areas caused by oil pollution through the development of a preventive plan, and introducing of environmental concepts to the legal texts and projects related to oil drilling.

Promote the sustainable management of forests and forest fire prevention, control and Rehabilitation.

Forestation of half a million trees a year, starting in 2011.

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Maintaining the legacy of Lebanon and promotion of its ecological system

In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emi90

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grants, Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, and Ministry of Finance Issuance of the draft law on natural reserves and draft laws and decrees related (for example Draft Law on protected areas in Lebanon, a draft decree on categories of protected areas in Lebanon, a draft decree on committees of Natural Reserves).

Classification of protected areas and natural sites through studies and obtaining necessary provisions.

Issuance of the draft laws and regulations of the "access to biological and genetic resources of Lebanon and the sharing of benefits arising from their use."

Activating the eco-tourism through the promotion of protected areas within the policy of the Ministry of Tourism.

Preside over the National Council for hunting and issuing decrees and decisions applied to the law 580/2004.

Conduct Follow-up studies and projects to diagnose the biological di-

versity in Lebanon and to highlight the value of social / economic development, including marine biodiversity and ways to rehabilitate aquatic ecosystems through life, for example, the experience of the marine artificial reefs.

Introducing environmental concepts to all charts guidelines to reduce the deterioration of mountain and coastal areas including Maritime public property projects.

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Efficient management of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes

In partnership with the Council for Development and Reconstruction, Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Ministry of Agriculture Work on the legalization of the integrated management of solid wastes, including industrial waste Management of Domestic solid waste to ensure environmental, social and economic development.

Develop an integrated plan to address the random deployed landfills

in Lebanon, and the allocation of resources for its application.

Establish a treatment plant for hazardous wastes (specifically industrial).

Issuances of the draft legal texts relating to hazardous wastes and modify the necessary provisions in force.

Development of conditions to deal with particular types of waste, for example, oil waste, used batteries, used electronic equipment, organic pollutants and expired goods.

Activate the integrated manageĂ? ment of chemicals.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT Program of the Ministry of Environment of Lebanon for the years 2010-2012

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Allocate resources necessary to handle the remaining waste from the oil spill pollution due to the 2006 July war.

Develop a practical plan to require all enterprises regardless of their geographical location or type (tourist or industrial or commercial), public or private, to find treatment for its solid and liquid wastes. This plan will be linked to the draft decrees under the provisions of Decree 2275/2009 on the environmental license in the discharge of liquid waste and licensing of environmental release of emissions.

Introducing environmental concepts in the TOR’s belonging to the establishment and operation of wastewater treatment plants.

Preparing and issuing legal texts to re-use the mud resulting from wastewater treatment plants.

Review the specifications and standards for water pollutants (decision of the Minister of the Environment 52/11996 and 8 / 1 - 2001) and adjust it where necessary.

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Supporting environmentfriendly Products

In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry, and Ministry of Economy and Trade

Support marketing and growing of organic agricultural products and promote integrated management of pesticides.

Support for environmental friendly industries and products, by seeking to provide material and moral incentives, for example, identify a framework to stimulate the use of clean technology and renewable energy, and / or the granting certificates for industrial enterprises that improve environmental performance of environmental liability.

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Developing business opportunities in the environmental field

In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Civil Service Council, the National Council for 92

The Minister of Environment Mohammad Rahhal participating to a reforestation campaign

Scientific Research, Ministry of Youth and Sports and the academic sector

In partnership with the Ministry of State for Administrative Reform and Civil Service Board

vironment in line with the Decree 2275/2009.

Strengthening human resources gradually in the Ministry of Environment in line with Decree 2275/2009.

Introduce the concepts of contemporary public administration in the daily work of the Ministry of Environment; for example, quality management system and updated Web page which facilitates serving the citizens.

Strengthening the Ministry of Environment with studies and strategies/plans and boards and necessary funds, such as: ¯ an updated study of the reality of the environment in Lebanon, or Lebanon's situation analysis and environmental study, updated for the cost of environmental degradation in Lebanon, and indicators of environment and development; and ¯ a sustainable development strategy and/or National Action plan for the environment linked to the European Neighborhood Policy, the World Bank's strategy to support Lebanon and the Arab Environment Facility, etc..; and ¯ study the need to implement the role of the National Council for the environment as stipulated in the Environmental Protection Act (444/2002); and ¯ study the framework of institutionalizing of the Environment Fund, which is run by Council for Development and Reconstruction and the Ministry of Environment, in accordance with the law 444/2002.

Restructuring of the Ministry of En-

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: www.moe.gov.lb

Promote Environmental Higher Education to provide scientific competencies for the Lebanese labor markets.

Identify ways to develop the Municipal Code in order to enhance environmental competence of the members of the municipal council and to develop work in local environmental management.

Make contributions to non-profit organizations to carry out activities pursuant to the environmental decree 14865/2005, including the promotion of research in different areas of the environment.

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Striving to improve the working environment in order to preserve professional safety

In partnership with the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Social Affairs Development of guidelines for improving the working environment in order to preserve professional safety.

Encourage research in the field of environmental safety.

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Activating the role of the Ministry of Environment

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MANY HEAVENS

ONE EARTH FAITH COMMITMENTS FOR A LIVING PLANET It has been called “the biggest civil society movement on climate change in history”… Leaders from nine of the world’s major faiths – Baha’ism, Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism and Sikhism – gathered in Windsor in November to commit to long-term practical action to save the environment.

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Faith Commitments for a Living Planet

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he ARC-UNDP Celebration was inaugurated with a moving public meeting at the Quakers' Friends Meeting House, Euston, a place where Gandhi once spoke, and where voices from all over the religious world gave witness to their work on the environment. "We've had some incredible days at Windsor," said UN Assistant Secretary General Olav Kjorven, in his keynote speech. "Most of us [working on development or environment issues] have stories about how nature has affected us deeply and inspired us to walk down a certain path. And this is fundamentally a driving force we cannot afford not to talk about.

In my business in international development bureaucracies, we have much to learn... We can talk in all these acronyms, MRV, CDM, MDGs... but what we are really trying to do is trying, as humanity, to make peace with the planet." .

From November 2-4, 2009, faith leaders from around the world met at Windsor at an event hosted by the Prince Philip and attended by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. The aim was to launch and discuss their long term initiatives to protect the Living Planet. The Celebration came just over a month before the Copenhagen Climate Change talks in December.

The Celebration - a Summit of Religious and Secular leaders - launched 31 long-term commitments by many major faith traditions from within 9 faiths. These Commitments cover for example: All Daoist Temples in China solar powered; Creating faith-based eco-labeling systems in Islam, Hinduism and Judaism;

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Faith leaders from around the world met at Windsor.

The aim was to launch and discuss their long term initiatives to protect the Living Planet.

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Greening all types of religious buildings; protecting sacred forests; Developing ethical investment policies; Printing sacred books on environmentally-friendly paper; Creating educational programmes through the faiths' major role in both formal and informal education.

Just over a year ago, ARC and UNDP launched the unique partnership to help faiths make these long-term plans and commitments. The commitments are related to the fundamental problem of our abuse of nature - of which climate change is one major symptom. These faith commitments will take place whatever does or does not happen at Copenhagen.

Windsor marked the largest ever commitment by the faiths to environmental action. To partner with them ARC and UNDP invited key secular environmental organizations to commit to work side by side with the faiths. From this initiative and this meeting new collaborations are already being planned, including links between Shintos, Church of Norway, Maronites and others on forestry standards.

"The world's faiths joined together in this cause - if viewed in terms of sheer numbers of people - could become the planet's largest civil society movement for change. With their unparalleled presence throughout the world, the world's religions could be the decisive force that helps top the scales in favor of a world of climate safety and justice for future generations... this event will be one for the history books," said Olav Kjorven, Assistant Secretary-General UNDP. Members of the public were invited to a major public forum on November 4 at Friends Meeting House in London entitled: "Many Heavens: One Earth Faiths, the Environment and Copenhagen". It included panel discussions

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The commitments are related to the fundamental problem of our abuse of nature of which climate change is one major symptom.

with leading practitioners and intergovernmental organizations, including Sally Bingham, founder of Interfaith Power and Light, Nigel Savage, founder of the environmental Jewish charity Hazon, and Olav Kjorven, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN. There were also three moving performances of Conference of the Birds, a creation moment from the Rigveda, and St Frances' Canticle of the Creatures, taking from the different faith traditions a moment where nature is given a voice.

Perhaps most important of all, the faiths can also be tremendous sources of inspiration and hope at a time when many people can feel despair at the scale of the environmental challenge facing the world, says ARC Secretary General Martin Palmer: “Religions for centuries have helped energize people and communities for action. They offer stability and resilience in a world where too many initiatives fail through lack of deep roots, and can bring a long-term perspective which will be based more on optimism than fear.�

Eco-Living New initiatives: Many initiatives were announced at the Celebration among which: new faith-based eco-labeling systems in Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Judaism; 8.5 million trees to be planted in Tanzania; all Daoist temples in China to be solar powered; 10 Muslim cities to be chosen to lead implementation of the Muslim Seven Year Action Plan; moves to source ecologically sustainable fuel sources for Sikh Gurdwaras in India, which feed 30 million poor people every day; greening of all types of religious buildings; protecting sacred forests (the faiths own or manage 5 per cent of the world’s forests); printing sacred books on environmentally-friendly paper (15 million Qur'ans are printed each year and around 75 million Bibles); extensive environmental education programmes through the faiths’ formal and informal role in schools;

LONG-TERM PLANS BY CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS “The Church's mission to protect sacredness: The fragrance of sacredness protects the earth; without it the earth will be no more than a piece of raw material.

If the earth and its life should be degraded to mere raw material, the earth would rise against humankind in the greatest slave revolt in history… Let the eyes of your grandchild be your confessional mirrors.” Martin Lönnebo, Swedish Bishop Emeritus at the General Synod 2007. (From the Church of Norway’s 10 year plan) Eighteen Christian faith traditions have created long-term plans for environmental action, each of which is special to their own strengths and outreach. Some are deeply ambitious – the Evangelical Lutheran Church of

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Tanzania’s Northern Diocese, for example, intends to plant 8.5 million trees in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania to tackle serious deforestation while others focus on encouraging their members to adopt lifestyle changes for lasting change and impact.

Climate change and the natural environment as a moral issue What all have in common is the recognition that how we treat the earth is a moral issue – that caring for God’s Creation is an imperative for the faithful.

These long-term plans signify the growth of a movement that, in the words of the US interfaith ministry The Regeneration Project, “addresses ecological issues from theological roots”. Many have widened this moral issue to include broader issues of justice and fairness: The Church of England recently set up the Climate Justice Fund to compensate communities overseas who are suffering most from the impacts of climate change;

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The Lutheran Church of Norway says that as a major oil producer, Norway has a special responsibility to mitigate the effects of petroleum extraction and protect vulnerable environments such as the Arctic; it intends to lobby the Norwegian Government to that effect; The Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, the Greek Orthodox Church, intends to work with secular and government groups to co-ordinate action on environmental refugees and will also lobby to end the dumping of industrial waste in Africa; The plan for American evangelicals – 28 per cent of the US population – includes finding ways of integrating concern for ‘creation care’ with other justice issues; The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon intends to mobilize faith-based and civil society organizations to lobby the government on climate change action.

Celebrating God’s Creation Many churches are incorporating an annual Creation Day or Creation Time festival into their calendar of worship and contemplation, both to celebrate

the beauty of God’s world but also to focus attention on conservation and environmental issues.

These festivals are part of wider moves to encourage people to make protecting and cherishing God’s creation part of living their faith. Some of the plans are deeply challenging to those of us in the richer, developed world.

The Church of South India, for example, is urging its members to adopt environmental tithing: Participants would “reduce their burden on the earth’s bounty” by producing 10 per cent less in waste and consuming 10 per cent less in non-renewable resources. The resulting financial savings would then be contributed to earth care efforts.

For their part, churches from the developed world are bringing their greater wealth and resources to collaborate with churches in the developing world.

American evangelicals are linking up with African churches in eco-winning projects, helping them to implement eco-friendly initiatives.

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The faiths are major landowners – they own 7-8 per cent of habitable land surface of the planet and five per cent of forestry. Forestry plays a big role in many plans, particularly from countries already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change.

Forestry The faiths are major landowners – they own 7-8 per cent of habitable land surface of the planet and five per cent of forestry. Forestry plays a big role in many plans, particularly from countries already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change.

The Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania is to implement an intensive tree planting campaign, with 8.5 million trees to create community forests at a cost of USD 2.5 million, of which two thirds will be raised locally; The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana intends to plant 200,000 trees in four areas and to create community woodlands with 100,000 seedlings; The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon has already planted more than one million trees since the early 1960s; its seven year plan includes a further 100,000 seedlings.

The Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania is to promote the use of economic charcoal cookers, encourage green burials

which don’t use wooden coffins; and develop alternative income sources, such as bee keeping, to replace harvesting of firewood. As well as largescale planting of trees, vetiver (a perennial grass), jatropha (a succulent shrub) and mangroves on church land, the Church of South India will promote using bamboo and vetiver as fencing instead of concrete walls in churches and schools.

Putting their own houses in order The churches are also getting their houses in order by looking at ways of ‘greening’ their buildings, institutions and pilgrimage sites, both in terms of making them more energy efficient and also in switching to renewable energy systems.

The Armenian Apostolic Church is installing solar power in church properties and some public buildings such as kindergartens and bath houses; The Quakers in Britain are taking their main conference centre, Swarthmoor Hall in Cumbria, ‘off-grid’ in two to three years’ time and considering whether to make some of their land

available for commercial wind turbines;

The Church of England intends to reduce its carbon footprint by 80 per cent by 2050 and 42 per cent by 2020; As well as looking at their own properties, the Orthodox Church of Poland will distribute practical guidelines on environmental protection to all Orthodox households during the traditional pastoral home visits after the Feast of the Epiphany. They’ll also print all Orthodox books and publications on environmentally friendly paper; The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change (a partnership of 13 Catholic organizations in the US) will look at how to tailor Catholic investments to support renewable energy technology and companies reducing their energy use and promoting sustainable energy.

Major education programmes All the faiths are embarking on widespread education and awareness-raising programmes, both internally to train their own leaders, and also externally, among their communities and in the millions of schools and youth programmes they run (faith groups are involved in more than half of all schools worldwide).

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All the faiths are embarking on widespread education and awareness-raising programmes, both internally to train their own leaders, and also externally, among their communities and in the millions of schools and youth programmes they run.

The Catholic Coalition of Climate Change (a partnership of 13 national Catholic organizations worldwide) is expanding Catholic education to make teaching on climate change, the environment and the care for creation much more central in schools and also in the training of priests, deacons and lay ministers; The Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, the Greek Orthodox Church, (10 million believers in 53 countries) is to establish a new Environmental Centre – using eco-friendly materials and sustainable energy – in South Africa to facilitate education and action throughout Africa; The Jesuits are setting up a task force to promote action on the environment and launching a website to keep Jesuits around the world informed on the environment; The Church of England is to launch an extensive ‘education for sustainable development’ programme, with all 4,700 church schools becoming sustainable schools by 2016; The Armenian Apostolic Church is

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to broadcast twice-monthly 30-minute programmes on Green Theology on its Shoghakat TV channel from 2010;

Pilgrimage Pilgrimages are still the world’s biggest travel events. Many faiths are looking at ways in which they can improve the carbon footprint of both their pilgrimage sites and the sacred lands.

The ecumenical faith-based body Operation Noah wants Christians to pledge to renounce flying (exceptin personal or family emergency) and cycle or walk to church; The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales wants to promote environmentally sensitive pilgrimages and re-discover ancient routes that deepen our spiritual relationship with the natural world; The Orthodox Church of Poland intends to introduce eco-tourism rules and encourage greater participation in traditional walking pilgrimages to holy places; The Jesuits, the largest male reli-

gious order in the Catholic Church, are to run all their retreat centers in an ecologically sensitive way, sourcing local, organic and fairtrade food, and auditing buildings to ensure a faith consistent use of assets. Celebration, the first of which is being held this month, October 2009.

MUSLIM SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN The Muslim Seven Year Action Plan to deal with global climate change was officially launched at the Windsor Celebration.

It has been approved by key names of the Islamic world, including the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Ali Goma'a; the Mufti of Palestine, Dr Ekrama Sabri; leading Saudi Arabian scholar Dr Salman Al-Ouda; prominent Lebanese Shia scholar Ali Mohamad Hussein Fadlallah; and the Adviser of the Prince of Mecca and Medina as well as Al Fatih Islamic University in Istanbul and ISESCO, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Eco-Living It includes plans to: develop major Muslim cities as green city models for other Islamic urban areas; establish an Islamic eco label for goods and services that adhere to Muslim principles; establish MACCA, the Muslim Association for Climate Change, a new umbrella organisation; look at ways to ‘green’ mosques, other buildings and pilgrimage; develop a best practice environmental guide for businesses; develop literature explaining the relationship of Islam to the environment for schools and mosques; establish a TV channel for Islam and the environment, broadcast in several languages; produce a film on the effects of climate change in Islamic countries

The role of Islam Speaking in July, when the Muslim Seven Year Plan was endorsed by a meeting of some 200 Islamic scholars and representatives of non-governmental, civil and government bodies in Istanbul, UN Assistant Secretary-General Olav Kjørven said the role of Islam could be one of the decisive factors tipping the planet towards a sustainable future: “The fact that you, the Muslim world, are deciding to take a stand and, most importantly, making commitments for real action, and that other faiths are doing the same is by far the biggest news story of 2009 as far as climate change is concerned,” he said. “It is the biggest mobilization of people and communities that we have ever seen on this issue. We in the UN are deeply impressed and delighted that this is happening.”

Key Muslim and Christian Delegates at the Windsor Conference: Sheikh Ali Goma’a – Grand Mufti of Egypt since 2003 and “one of the most widely respected jurists in the Sunni Muslim world” (Jay Tolson, US News, 2/4/2008) Dr Mahmoud Akef – Executive Director of the non-profit Earth Mates Dialogue Centre, London. He has been heavily involved in drawing up the Muslim Seven Year Plan; Dr Mutlaq Al-Qarawi – Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait; Dr Salman al-Ouda – Leading scholar and Director of the Arabic edition of the website Islam Today.

Prof Talip Alp, Vice Rector, Al Fatih Islamic University, Istanbul; Mamadou Lamine Thiam – First Parliamentary Administrator, National Assembly, Senegal Rev Canon Sally Bingham, president of the US-based Regeneration Project; Rt Rev Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, Church of England; Brian Cuthbertson, head of environmental challenge, Church of England; Mark Dowd, Campaign Strategist, Operation Noah, UK; Rev Harper Fletcher, Executive Director, GreenFaith; Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev, Chairman of Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations and Bishop of Volokolamsk; Fr Michael Higgins, President of the Conference of the Franciscan Family, Order of Friars Minor; Fr Roberto Jaramillo, Regional Superior of the Society of Jesus of the Amazon Region; Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, General Secretary, World Council of Churches, until August this year; His Excellency Seraphim Kykkotis, Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria and Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa; Fr Sean McDonagh SSC, International Environment Officer, Columbas; Daniel Misleh, Executive Director of the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change; Archbishop Valentine Mokiwa, President of the All Africa Conference of Churches; Rt Rev Dr Nyansako-ni-Nku, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon; Pastor Tri Robertson, Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Boise, Idaho, US, and author of the 2007 book, Saving God’s Green Earth; Helen Rowlands, leading Quaker educationalist; Dr David Ryall, Assistant General Secretary, Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales; Dr Rt Rev Thomas Samuel, Bishop of Madhya Kerala, Church of South India; Rt Rev Frederick Shoo, Assistant Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church; Susan Stephenson, executive director, US-based Regeneration Project; Bishop Walter Thomas, of New Psalmist Baptist Church, Baltimore, Maryland, US; Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary, World Council of Churches; Mrs Nada Zarour, president of AFDC, a Lebanese NGO which works with Maronite and Druze communities on reforestation.

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By Alya KEBIRI

CORPORATIONS & RESPONSIBILITY, WHERE DO WE STAND n recent decades, large corporations have grown to become amongst the most powerful entities in the world. Of the world’s 100 largest economies, just 49 of them are countries - the others are corporations. General Motors’ economy, for example, is larger than Denmark.

While governments are directly responsible to their citizens for social issues such as the environment, corporations are responsible only to their shareholders. Those shareholders' main and sole interest is profit.

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Before World War II, despite the power of corporations, they were primarily national entities. In principle and to some extent in fact, they could be, and were, regulated by national governments. They were expected to work for the national interest, and in part they were themselves influenced by nationalist sentiments. The dominant ideology of the time was nationalism.

Since World War II, the most important corporations have become transnational. The idea that these might subordinate their financial interests to that of a particular nation hardly comes into play. They relate to nations in such a way as to maximize profits, and they seek to be free of national restrictions. What is remarkable is the extent to which they have attained this freedom.

Of course, this freedom from national governments would not have been achieved apart from the great

power of their money to influence political leaders. Nevertheless, their success would have been much less had they lacked the strong support of the dominant economic theory.

This theory teaches that governmental intervention in the market inhibits its proper functioning. It is this functioning of the market that increases the prosperity of all.

Hence, so the argument goes, governmental restriction on market activity should be minimized. Since market activity is dominated by corporations, this is tantamount to arguing that government regulation of corporations should be minimized.

This theory applied to national corporations and played a large role in supporting their growth and relative autonomy within nations. But since World War II another step has been taken. The same economic theory argues that the larger the market the better. Therefore, restricting the activities of corporations by national boundaries is also opposed. The abandonment of such restrictions is known as "free trade", and the movement toward freer and freer trade has been understood as progress.

A third factor leading to the surrender of national power to corporations was idealistic internationalism.

In the United States this grew up in reaction to political isolationism.

Many Americans had wanted to stay out of world affairs, especially, the wars among European states. But many idealists felt that the United

States should play its proper role in the world, for example, by encouraging democracy everywhere.

Internationalists usually saw protection of a national economy as part of the isolationism to which they were opposed. They believed that trade between nations contributed to peace and to prosperity in both.

Hence they advocated lowering the tariff barriers that had been so important a part of the nineteenthcentury economy.

After World War II the United States emerged as the world's most powerful nation economically as well as militarily. Isolationism was an irrelevant ideology. Internationalism continued as an idealistic commitment expressing itself in the creation of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. But internationalism also took the form of competition for power with the Soviet Union.

In the first half of the period since World War II, many developing countries sought to improve their national economies. Some, such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan were remarkably successful in this endeavor, and many others made some progress. But the dominant economic and internationalist ideology, as well as the interests of the great transnational corporations, opposed these national economies as obstacles to the ideal situation - Ă?

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a truly global market in which national boundaries were erased. Since 1980 this ideal has been progressively realized at breathtaking speed.

Most developing countries borrowed heavily in the seventies in order to pay for more costly oil imports and because loans were so available and so cheap. When interest rates rose they found themselves unable to make even interest payments. This provided the opportunity for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to insist on changes in public policy that opened these countries far more to transnational corporations. This pressure continues to the present.

In recent years environmentalists have expressed alarm over the effects of this shift of power from governments to TNCs. Governments have interests other than trade, including the protection of the environment and the preservation of resources for use in the future. The emergence of environmental issues near the top of the global political agenda over the past few years has not escaped the notice of the business community. The new importance of "green" issues in boardroom discussions, public relations strategies and production processes cannot be denied. There are some shining examples of "corporate responsibility" in the area of environmental protection. There are at least an equal number of blatant examples of "green washing," where large quantities of public relations dollars are directed towards deceiving the public about the environmental policy of a company, or distracting the public's attention from fundamental issues. So yes, there are some reasons for optimism even though there are great obstacles.

The profit motive has a terrible impact on social issues like human

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rights and the environment. Corporations are required by law to always act in the best interests of their shareholders, and that is almost always interpreted as keeping profits and the share price high. The issue of corporate responsibility is a relatively new one and companies are now clambering over themselves to prove their green credentials. As mentioned earlier, a lot of their energy is going into ‘green wash’.

‘Green wash’ is defined as disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image. Many corporations spend more money on environmental public relations than the actual act of building sustainability.

Corporate responsibility has always been voluntary but voluntary mechanisms do not work well in a market based system. Corporations are not working to protect the environment. It is against their interest to take initiatives to reduce consumption and most corporations oppose laws designed to protect the environment because they hurt their business. Corporations have caused environmental destruction globally for many years and the scale of the problem is increasing.

Of the world’s wealthiest and largest corporations, the largest number are tied up in oil, petrol and car manufacturing. Retail and financial services are some of the other major players. Environmental sustainability is clearly contrary to their shortterm interests. What’s more, their lobby is one of the most powerful in many world governments. Sheer financial wealth allows them to support politics and expect paybacks in return. The major 82 American corporations made political donations in 2000 totaling over US$34 million.

Corporate lobby influence in Brussels and Washington is massive. In particular, many corporations push

governments to ease environmental regulations. Large corporations stand to save millions from shortcuts in environmental care. The failure of the American government to sign the Kyoto treaty came as no surprise to those who know the petrol and car lobbies’ power in Washington. But while a corporation has few legal limits on what it can do, what are its moral responsibilities?

In market terms, the answer is obvious. For a business to continue, it must have healthy consumers and plenty of resources to use, both of which come about through environmental sustainability. But does short-term greed override this longterm pragmatism?

Pollution is a major concern to environmentalists who worry that corporations are reluctant to cutback on greenhouse gas emissions in their industries. Similarly, noise pollution and waste production are major by-products of large industries, particularly toxic waste. To get around this, some corporations shift their operations to third world countries with less rigid environmental and employment laws.

Recognizing these problems, social groups have pressured corporations into an agenda of social responsibility. Because of globalization, many corporations work under the legislation of many different countries making legal restrictions very difficult, and so the power of the consumer is being called on to make these corporations act responsibly.

Corporations do not have a deliberate intent to harm the environment.

Greed and laziness are behind their destructiveness. Some corporations are now starting to realize their moral obligations. Millions of dollars are being poured into promoting many companies’ green image, but these are often little more than exercises in public relations.

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PRIVATE INITIATIVE AND CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY:

BANK MED ANNOUNCES ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY ACTIONS

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Always a pioneer in ground breaking initiatives in Lebanon, BankMed has once again demonstrated its leadership by taking the lead to tackle one of the biggest challenges Lebanon is facing: Environmental degradation.

Bank Med deeply believes that it is about time to cherish, protect and preserve what our country has to offer (a balanced ecosystem, a diverse geo-

graphy, a perfect weather, and a flourishing nature). Thus, in 2009, the Happy Planet program was launched as a commitment to a Green Planet declaring it the year to a better environment. Environment friendly initiatives have been taking place both internally, with the close collaboration of the Bank’s staff, and externally with the citizens. The name of the program “happy planet” was chosen to emphasize the fact that we’re not alone on

the planet and that we must live in harmony with Mother Nature.

And the green journey begins In order to reach the largest number of people, to increase environmental awareness and to sensitize the public to a green behavior, BankMed has used extensive press and outdoor advertising campaigns.

TV commercials were shot with Lebanese celebrities a second burst of pro-green press and outdoor campaign derived from the TV concepts was released strengthening even more the ecological position of the bank and its action.

The main message conveyed was that millions of daily small gestures can yield a huge beneficial effect on the environment. Small added ecofriendly gestures, that don’t require a big effort such: as turning the light off when leaving a room or unplugging you PC when turned off, create what is known as the butterfly effect inducing positive impacts in the fight against climate change and nature preservation.

Making a difference In parallel to raising awareness, BankMed with the support of its entire staff, and in collaboration with many active local environmental organizations, concretely contributed in making a difference towards a better environment: With the help of “Cedars for Care”, BankMed employees and heads gathered at a public beach sight in Rmeileh to clean up the country’s shores. The site was chosen because it is extremely polluted, and its living habitat, a rare species of sea turtles, is suffering from these deplorable conditions. Clean beaches are a necessity not only to protect the country’s biodiversity but also for the swimmer’s health and for tourism benefits.

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and as part of its concrete eco friendly actions BankMed launched a reforestation campaign by planting cedars in the Cedar Mountains and in the Al Shouf Cedar reserve (the largest Nature reserve in Lebanon accounting to more than a quarter of the remaining Cedar trees). The three large Cedar forests and their habitat are certainly the main attraction of this Reserve which is one of the rare forests that shelters medium size Mammals such as the wolf and the jungle cat as well as various bird and mountain plants….

Civic awareness BankMed also realizes that the best way to contribute in protecting Lebanon’s environment is to face the problem at its root. Thus the bank sponsored many ecological projects targeting kids and teenagers. Í

With the help of “Cedars for Care”, BankMed employees and heads gathered at a public beach sight in Rmeileh to clean up the country’s shores.

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To enlighten and form a civic society that respects and cherishes nature and its environment is at the heart of BankMed’s happy planet program. The Little Engineer workshop is one of BankMed’s initiatives followed by it meant to teach children about renewable energies, nature and ecosystem preservation.

Furthermore a “Green School and a Green Student Competition” was launched in November 2009 to encourage environmental education in schools and also to urge children to start acting for a better environment by finding or proposing solutions to the environmental problems the country is facing. By learning to have an eco-friendly attitude at a young age these children will become with time responsible citizens.

Seminars and workshops Seminars and open table debates on environmental issues have been given and will be given throughout the year on a regular basis.

In November 2009, and under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment the “Awakening the Dreamer “ symposium took place with a very large number of environment activists and stakeholders. BankMed’s webpage has also turned green with the launching of a new environmental website the: www.bankmedhappyplanet.com Local, regional and International environmental news will be continuously posted and updated to keep people informed on the latest developments in the environment field. Eco-friendly tips and tools will be proposed to give people simple and easy ways to protect the environment.

To push interactivity further, a fun web game is available on line as part of the Happy Planet campaign. It is intended to raise eco awareness in an entertaining way (those who reach the highest score have the possibility to win bicycles) through this ever expanding medium.

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The Little Engineer workshop it meant to teach children about renewable energies.

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By Saquina Filimone MUCAVELE

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The Mozambican Rural Women Forum

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n Mozambique, 70% of the population lives in rural areas, of which 65% are women. Adult illiteracy is a consequence of education disparity and unequal power relationships between men and women. Adult illiteracy in rural areas remains high where 66.7% of the rural population are illiterate, of which 81.2% are women. Despite these inequalities women are responsible for 80% of the agriculture production which is highly rudimentary; dependent on the rain, lack of technology mainly for subsistence.

Gender roles are stereotypical and women are responsible for food pro-

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duction, water/fuel collection, which contribute to the continued feminization of poverty in Mozambique.

3.4% of Administrative Post Chiefs (lowest level of government and closest to rural women) are women.

Mozambican women have a theoretical right to access land, but in practice applications from women have a very low success rates at the Deeds Office. In 2008 for example, 29% of land applications were submitted by women, of which only 12.6% were successful in comparison with the 87.4% of successful land applications made by men.

37.5% of Parliamentarians are women nevertheless in the lower echelons of government women’s representation declines significantly e.g. 20.7% of Provincial Directors are women and only

Changes in the climate are reflected in changes of rainfall patterns which contribute to the unpredictability and intensity of the rain which negatively impacts on women income and also leads to increase distances that women have to walk in order to access water for agriculture purposes.

This tremendously increases women’s work load and affects their health. Fertilizer production processes contributes to global warming and when used in excess reduce land fertility. The unavailability of fertile

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Recommendations : 1. To establish monitoring mechanisms of all agreed regulations that allow effective participation of rural women.

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The need for urgent integrated technological cooperation (with sustainable technologies adapted to the local and especially to the rural women, including capacity building) and financial support.

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To introduce technologies that add value to the protection of the environment and help the conservation of humidity and promote the soil fertility without the need to use fertilisers that are detrimental to the soil.

4. To channel available financial support to the institutions and make it accessible to the rural women.

5. To set up mechanisms for the country to reduce emissions up to 40%.

6. The urgent need to develop projects focusing on rural women, which is the most vulnerable group.

7. The need for governments, politicians and Civil Society movements to embrace the spirit of accountability to society.

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To establish clear definition and immediate application of strategies for adaptation and mitigation to the climate changes.

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To establish mechanisms for revision and simplification of access to clean development mechanisms (CDM).

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To set rights to defend the exploitation and use of natural resources of the country.

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To establish necessary economic, technical, cultural and political condition for the promotion of the Environmental Education with special emphasis on the women as an essential element for the society.

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To establish mechanisms for Transference of mitigation technologies of climate changes: Women capacity building for the use of technologies.

Accessibility of funds for adaptation to the climate change for the rural communities particularly women in the agriculture.

Clear mechanisms of accessing funds by rural women to allow their participation in decision making forums, regarding climate issues and development of the legislation policies and programs to facilitate the access to land, credit, education and training through adequate and sustainable technologies to rural women and fisheries communities.

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The Mozambican Rural Women Forum

soil will also contribute to the migration of rural women, seeking fertile land that may be far from water sources. Therefore, it will also contribute to women’s workload.

The cases stated above, will gradually impact negatively on the families’ food security, particularly women. For example, the case of Chokwe District, located in Gaza Province which used to produce a lot of rice but due to use of fertilizers, Chokwe is now no longer a producer of rice in Mozambique, which

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affects not only food sovereignty, but the country’s economy as well.

There is also evidence of reduction of native vegetables as a consequence of indiscriminate cutting of forests as a result of big investments that are springing especially from multinationals which occupy vast areas. This reduces the natural environment that was improving the communities’ life, air quality and also eliminates wood fuel and leave soils without the necessary protection.

The invasion of forests, in areas that are totally not protected, also reduces the organic material and impoverish the soils, in addition to promoting erosion and hunger in the communities.

In addition to the evidence that soils in the estuary area are becoming saline due to effects of sea water by activities in neighbouring countries, there is also enormous indigenous knowledge and experiences that should be used to preserve and protect the environment.

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The General Objectives of MUGEDE: • To educate the communities in relation to Environmental issues, Sustainable Development, regarding the civic, ethic and moral values, linked to gender, in order to promote an active citizenship, reinforce the sense of ownership and active participation of all citizens in decision making related to political, social, cultural and economic issues.

• To promote education on the correct environmental sanitation management and good hygienic habits; • To create an awareness and behavioral change aiming at promoting active citizenship at the communities level; • To contribute for the women empowerment and promote the women development related to her rights and duties and for gender equality, linked to the environment to define the strategies in order to help her to overcome the gender stigmatization, with view to reinforce the changes on the attitudes, values and mentalities

Saquina Filimone Mucavel Is the coordinating member of the MUGEDE Association for “Women, Gender and Development, Associação Mulher, Gênero e Desenvolvimento.” Founded in 2004, this organization focuses on areas such as Environment, Rural Development and Gender.

Saquina has participated in the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, representing MUGEDE/ Women Gender and Development Organization and the FOMMUR/ Mozambican Rural Women Forum organization.

She has established many partnerships in the Environmental area as well as Gender area and has actively participated in work groups for the Environment, Sanitation, Rural Women, Gender, Food Sovereignty, EPAS and others.

• To contribute for the sustainable use and preservation of the natural resources as well as to combat climate change, to defend the women interests in order for them to participate and work actively for the improvement of environmental conditions and improving simultaneously their life conditions.

• To contribute for the valorization of the experiences and the individual capabilities through the promotion vocational training encouraging the spirit of acknowledgment sharing within the groups and prioritizing the activities which can promote the rapid economic and sustainable development of the urban, peri-urban and rural development

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STARS FOUNDATION EXPANDS PRESTIGIOUS IMPACT AWARDS INTO MIDDLE-EAST, EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC REGIONS 118

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The prestigious awards, which are supported by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, are given by the STARS Foundation, a London-based charitable foundation which works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children around the world.

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ondon-based charity, the STARS Foundation is calling for applications for its 2010 Impact Awards, open for the first time this year to organisations in the Middle East, East Asia and Pacific regions. The STARS Impact Awards recognise organisations making a demonstrable difference to the lives of disadvantaged children worldwide. Following two successful years of making awards in Africa, STARS expanded into South Asia in

2009, receiving applications from organisations in seven new countries.

In its mission to reach organisations serving the most disadvantaged children in the world, STARS is delighted to be expanding again for the 2010 Impact Awards. New countries eligible to apply for the 2010 Impact Awards are: Cambodia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Repu-

blic, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Yemen.

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tions and local government. Thousands more children will benefit from us extending the scheme into 24 new countries taking STARS up to 80 countries in total,” says STARS chief executive Muna Wehbe.

The STARS Impact Awards: Health, Education & Protection Launched in 2007, the STARS Impact Awards support organisations committed to achieving excellence in the provision of services to disadvantaged children and encourage the replication of effective approaches and practices. Each award provides US$100,000 of unrestricted funding as well as tailored consultancy support. In addition, a smaller award may be made to recognise the work of an organisation whose application demonstrates potential as a ‘rising star’.

The Impact Awards recognise one recipient in each category of health, education and protection. The recipients are selected against a range of criteria which reflect the hallmarks of effective practice.

The specific criteria that STARS is interested in are: Delivery of programmes that positively affect the lives of disadvantaged children and an ability to measure and demonstrate impact; Governance and accountability to stakeholders; Effective finance and administration; Use of technology and ICT to enhance delivery of programmes; Innovation and flexibility; Networking and collaborating with other organisations; Development of staff members and/or volunteers; Inclusion and access.

STARS Impact Awards 2009: Recipients announced at London ceremony The STARS Foundation announced the recipients of the 2009 awards at a ce- 120

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Image of the 2009 recipients and the trustees.

Back row, left to right: Sally Tennant, Mark Bridges, Mohamed Jazeel, John Crawshaw, John Quelch From row, left to right: Biju Matthew, Akhil Paul, Priti Pravin Pratkar, Devendra Gurung, Richard Amoah, Anne Mwikali Mutua, Tebereh Wold Gabriel and Ashenafi Asmelash

remony in London on October 15 2009.

Six grassroots organisations working in Africa and South Asia were recognised by the 2009 STARS Impact Awards for making a demonstrable difference to the lives of disadvantaged children.

This year’s recipients of the Africa Impact Awards are: Education award: Bolgatanga-based AfriKids Ghana, selected for its holistic approach to taking children out of poverty via education, skills training and micro finance schemes while working in a traditionally neglected part of Ghana lacking infrastructure and services.

Protection award: Mekelle-based Mums for Mums, selected fora its innovative training programme in Ethiopia which gives young women the skills they need to earn a living, helping to break the cycle of poverty that puts so many of their children at risk.

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‘Rising star’ award: Kenyan charity SAFE (Sponsored Art for Education), for its unique model of professional theatre performances and follow-up activities to deliver peer-to-peer health education messages in three very different communities across the country.

This year’s recipients of the Asia Impact Awards are: Education award: Ahmedabad-based Sense International India, selected for its partnership approach to supporting deafblind children and for setting up South Asia’s first teacher training and mentoring course in deafblindness.

Protection award: Mumbai-based Prerana, selected for providing night and day care and education/training for children at risk from ‘second generation’ commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking in India.

Each award provides US$100,000 of unrestricted funding as well as tailored consultancy support.

In addition, a smaller award may be made to recognise the work of an organisation whose application demonstrates potential as a ‘rising star’.

Health award: Pokhara-based Child Welfare Scheme Nepal, selected for targeted health care and safer motherhood programmes to very rural and poor communities, including mobile health clinics.

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STARS 2009 IMPACT AWARDS Education: Sense International India (www.senseintindia.org) Sense International India is the first and only NGO supporting the development of services for deafblind children and young adults in India. Established in 1997 with support from Sense International UK, its mission is to ensure that all deafblind and multi-sensory impaired (MSI) people have access to education, advice and support that will enable them to be full and active members of society.

Deafblindness leads to specific challenges, particularly in communication, mobility and access to information.

Many deafblind children develop additional physical, sensory, and learning difficulties. In India, there are about 444,000 deafblind people.

In partnership with local organisations, families, carers and professio-

nals, Sense International India supports deafblind and MSI people through its centre-based and community work.

This includes: First teacher training course in deafblindness in South Asia. To date, 2,000 have received training and become mentors to village-based rehabilitation workers.

Four regional training centres across India, in Trichi, Gujarat, Delhi and UP. Each covers 5-6 states, offers support to deafblind people and facilitates sharing of expertise with partner organisations.

Currently Sense International India reaches around 27,000 deafblind people and their families through a network of 37 partners across 19 states.

By 2017, it intends to have at least one

service in each state of India and reach out to about 70,000 deafblind people through its services.

By involving policy makers, Sense International India has also succeeded in including deafblindness within disability policies of various states in India.

The organisation has worked with the Ministry of Human Resource Development to include education of deafblind children under an ‘Education for All’ Scheme. It has also supported the formation of networks of families, teachers, and deafblind people themselves for advocacy and support.

“Sense International India delivers truly unique services to children who without support would be isolated from mainstream society. Through its work with partners, the organisation responds to real needs, with tangible and effective programmes being provided to some of the most vulnerable children in the country.”

Protection: Prerana, India (www.prenanaatc.com) Based in Mumbai, Prerana protects children vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking – the real-life ‘Slumdog’ kids. Established by director Priti Pravin Patkar in 1986 in the red light districts of the city, the organisation improves the welfare of children by removing them from difficult situations and offering shelter, nutrition, health, education and life skills opportunities.

Commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of young women and children have become key issues in South Asia, and particularly in India. Of an estimated three million sex workers in the country, 40% are identified as children. An estimated 15,000 women work as prostitutes on 14 Mum-

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bai streets within the Kamatipura area. Women and children who suffer from poverty, illiteracy, and a lack of education are more likely to be vulnerable to trafficking or at risk of sexual exploitation. Through consultation with the local community, Prerana developed its first night care crèche for vulnerable children in 1986. The focus is not on “bad mothers” but mothers in difficult circumstances.

Today, the organisation: runs three night care centres that together provide shelter to approximately 230-250 children a night (and up to 100 children during the day). The children get free medical check-ups as well as regular meals throughout day and eve-

Eco-Living Health Award: Child Welfare Scheme, Nepal (www.childwelfarescheme.org) Founded in 1997, Child Welfare Scheme Nepal (CWSN), based in Pokhara, western Nepal, improves the lives of the most marginalised children and young people through health, education and social opportunities delivered in urban slums and remote villages. As a result of poverty and high child and maternal mortality rates, Nepali children face a high number of challenges; nearly half of are malnourished or underweight; 42% are involved in child labour and 30% do not attend school. To meet these challenges, CWSN runs several urban and rural programmes throughout the Pokhara region, covering about 60,000 residents.

symbols on medication instead of words (eg sun for day, moon for evening). Weekly mobile health clinics: for those who cannot reach the Asha clinic, CWSN runs three mobile units where mothers and their children receive basic medical check-ups and medication. CWSN has also set up 14 rural health centres western Nepal, in partnership with the local communities.

The charity’s ‘lifecycle’ approach includes:

Jyoti Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Centre: Provides a two-year training programme for 16-22 year olds in plumbing, electrical, care giving and secretarial/IT. Over 300 children a year apply for 80 places. All referrals are from other NGOs; students are selected according to greatest need. Course leads to a state- and nationally-recognised qualification. Jyoti Street children’s project: to support Pokhara’s 350

The Asha Clinic: an extensive and well-equipped medical centre on the outskirts of Pokhara, offering health care services, nutrition and safe motherhood advice to children and their families. Its innovative approach to educating illiterate mothers about nutrition involves the use of signs and

Safe Motherhood Programme: CWSN is training local mothers at rural health centres on safe motherhood issues. These ‘mothers as motivators’ are working in the surrounding community to promote health education for pregnant women.

street children, most of whom sniff glue/drink/smoke and/or are involved in sex work. The project – run by an exstreet child - includes life skills training and a bank savings programme.

Over 1,300 children and women per month attend the Asha Clinic and CWSN’s mobile health clinics offer primary medical care to children who otherwise would not have access to the most basic of health care services.

CWSN promotes diversity within its team, offering equal opportunities, without consideration of gender and caste to all those involved with its programmes. An ex-beneficiary is on the Board of Trustees; two ex-beneficiaries now work as staff members.

“CWSN not only targets the most vulnerable of children but also runs programmes in areas where no other health and education programmes are accessible to the rural and urban poor. One of the key strengths of CWSN is the focus on encouraging and involving the local community to be part of its programmes, as well as strengthening the skills of its staff and volunteers to grow and develop within the organisation.”

ning. Centres are open to boys up to 14 and girls up to 17. In some cases they will take girls up to 21 depending on circumstances and older boys if they are orphans and have no other place to go. supports 800 children through educational programmes, shelter homes and a residential training centre for rescued girls, and is constructing a Prerana Shelter Home that will house 150 rescued girls over 4 floors and provide training in areas such as catering/hospitality, IT and fashion design.

Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Through the organisation’s Anti-Trafficking Centre, it provides extensive information on trafficking, sensitisation training for the police and opportunities for other organisations to learn more about its programmes. Due to Prerana’s advocacy work, the Indian government adopted a policy on child trafficking, which was implemented into the country’s national plan in 1998. In 2002 Prerana received the International Anti Slavery Award from ECPAT International.

Since 1986, the organisation has assisted about 5,000 children and over 1,000 have been removed from the red light areas to children’s shelters for long-term residential care and protection.

“Prerana’s delivery of services and impact on the lives of children vulnerable to trafficking has been truly exceptional.

The advocacy role the organisation takes in promoting the cause of children at risk is not only critical but pioneering in this highly stigmatised area. One of the organisation’s key strengths lies in its collaborative strategy to broaden its impact and share knowledge with others.”

Prerana shares software-based initiatives for better protection of girls vulnerable to trafficking with NGOs from

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AGENDA Fut ure Envi ronm Even ental ts

April 2010: 06 Transitioning to the Green EconomyContributions of Impact Assessment (IAIA10):

www.iaia.org GENEVA SWITZERLAND

12 Project Qatar, Qatar Sustainability Conference: www.ifpqatar.com DOHA QATAR

14 The Sustainable City 2010: Sixth International Conference on Urban Regeneration and Sustainability: www.wessex.ac.uk LA CORUNA SPAIN

May 2010:

June 2010:

03 Project Near East Amman,

14 International Conference on Environmental Engineering and

Sustainability Week Conference:

Technology (ICEET 2010)

www.ifpgroup.net

www.waset.org BALI INDONESIA

AMMAN JORDAN 20 5th Annual International Symposium on Environment:

23 Heritage 2010 - 2nd International Conference on Heritage and

www.atiner.gr

28 Design and Nature 2010: Fifth International Conference on

ATHENS GREECE 20 Green Solutions Conference 2010:

Comparing Design in Nature with Science and Engineering www.wessex.ac.uk PISA ITALY 28 Innovate to Survive: Engineers for a One Planet Future速 www.ice-innovatetosurvive.com LONDON UNITED KINGDOM

www.gndays.com

Sustainable Development

www.heritage2010.greenlines-institute.org EVORA PORTUGAL

BANGKOK THAILAND

July 2010:

August 2010:

01 European Youth Perspective Conference on

07 GIslands 2010 - International Summer School 2010 on Geo-technologies applied to Marine Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management www.gislands.org PONTA DELGADA PORTUGAL 19 Solutions on Harmonising Sustainability and Nature Protection with Socio-Economic Stability www.va.lv VALMIERA LATVIA 25 International Conference on Ecological Science and Technology (ICEST 2010) www.waset.org SINGAPORE SINGAPORE 31 Europar 2010 www.europar2010.it ISCHIA (NAPLES) ITALY

Biodiversity www.youpec2010.eu GEEL BELGIUM 01 World Ecological Forum www.worldecologicalforum.com VISBY SWEDEN 08 2nd World Ecotourism Conference 2010

www.worldecotourismconference.com KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA 12 Sustainable Architecture and Urban Planning Conference www.csaar.com AMMAN JORDAN 14 International Conference on Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering (ICCBEE 2010) www.waset.org LONDON UNITED KINGDOM

September 2010: 01 Health and Ecology (Climate Change) www.tiny.cc UPPSALA SWEDEN 05 World Water Week in Stockholm www.worldwaterweek.org STOCKHOLM SWEDEN 15 Corporate Responsibility Research Conference 2010 www.crrconference.org MARSEILLE FRANCE 20 GLOBAL GREEN TECHIES FORUM 2010 www.res-jo.com AMMAN JORDAN 21 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: Strategies and Procedures for Developing Nations www.ierdafrica.org OTA NIGERIA

October 2010:

November 2010:

03 The 3rd International Conference on

01 ICEMT 2010 - The First International Conference

Environmental and Computer Science (ICECS 2010) www.icecs.org/index.htm PUERTO RICO USA 11 Hydrology Conference 2010 - The Changing Physical and Social Environment: Hydrologic Impacts and Feedbacks www.hydrologyconference.com SAN DIEGO USA 21 1st International Symposium on Turkish & Japanese Environment and Forestry www.turkjapon2010.ktu.edu TRABZON TURKEY 25 The first Water International Symposium www.cie2010-univ-annaba.co.cc ANNABA ALGERIA

on Environmental Management & Technologies www.icemt10.emtme.com AMMAN JORDAN 2 North Africa Energy Summit www.the energyexchange.co.uk VIENNA AUSTRIA 08 VENICE 2010 Third International Symposium on Energy from Biomass and Waste www.venicesymposium.it VENICE ITALY 15 GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM www.mbombela.gov.za NELSPRUIT SOUTH AFRICA 30 Transitions to Sustainability www.nzsses.auckland.ac.nz AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND

December 2010 05 2nd International Conference on Climate Change & Sustainable Management of Natural Resources www.itmuniverse.in GWALIOR INDIA

06 International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (ICEST 2010) www.waset.org ISTANBUL TURKEY

06 ACES: A Community on Ecosystem Services www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu ARIZONA USA

15 First International Conference on Sustainable Urbanization (ICSU) www.polyu.edu.hk HONG KONG HONG KONG

29 International Conference on Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering (ICCBEE 2010) www.waset.org BANGKOK THAILAND

WORLD ENVIRONMENT

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LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS MAGAZINE

1

EU nations decide to support a ban on international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna until stocks recover.

European Union ambassadors agreed to propose protecting bluefin tuna as an endangered species on Wednesday, the EU presidency said, a move that would effectively ban international trade in the species.

2

UN launches review of criticized climate panel U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday that a group of national science academies would review U.N. climate science to restore trust after a 2007 global warming report was found to have errors.

3

Slovenia allows hunters to kill bears, wolves Slovenia will this year allow hunters to kill 75 brown bears and 12 wolves to limit the damage they do to crops and livestock and prevent numbers growing, the environment ministry said on March 10, 2010

4 5

President Hugo Chavez declared that he is confident that God and nature will pull Venezuela out of a power crisis battering both the economy and his popularity.

President Barack Obama's top environmental adviser urged the natural gas industry on Tuesday to disclose the chemicals it uses in drilling, warning that the development of massive U.S. shale gas reserves could be held back otherwise.

6

Improved Wood Stoves could improve air quality and health two billion people worldwide do their cooking on open fires, producing sooty pollution that shortens millions of lives and exacerbates global warming. If widely adopted, a new generation of inexpensive, durable cook stoves could go a long way toward alleviating this problem.

With a single, concerted initiative, says Lakshman Guruswami, the world could save millions of people in poor nations from respiratory ailments and early death, while dealing a big blow to global warming — and all at a surprisingly small cost.

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QUIZ ANSWERS

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MAGAZINE

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1

C, To drive less and buy a more fuelefficient car is the best way to reduce CO2 emissions

2

C, The bathroom accounts for 70-75% of household water use. Toilet, sink and shower; your bathroom is full of water-wasters.

Installing a low-flow toilet, faucet aerator, and low-flow shower head will save water

3

C, In 2009, 22.7 million barrels of petroleum per day were consumed in the U.S. That's an increase of 49 % since 1970!

4 5

D, The snow, the clouds and the ozone layer have all an effect on UV levels

A, The innermost portion of the storm is called the “eye” of the hurricane.

This zone is surprisingly calm with little or no wind. Within the eye, the skies are often clear, despite the fact that winds and clouds continue to rage around the edge of the eye. The eye is not always in the centre of the storm. Sometimes it turns or moves in various directions with the storm itself, which continues to move forward on its own course

6

C, Switching from a SUV to a compact car reduces greenhouse gas emissions of 3,000 kilograms (3 tonnes) per year.

Reducing fuel consumption means saving money and, more importantly, helping the environment.