Oct 16 2008
Top 20 Environmental Successes of 2008
Published by Steve N. Lee at 9:50 pm under changing the world, climate change, conservation, deforestation, environment, global warming, globalization, human rights, wildlife
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There’s so much doom and gloom everywhere, I figured I’d spread a little joy by delivering good news of environmental triumphs from around the globe.
Why are these environmental projects important?
Simple.
The Political Economy Research Institute reported recently that a $100 billion investment in green initiatives could create two million jobs, lowering U.S. unemployment from 5.7 to 4.4%.
California’s Air Resources Board report states: “Taking strong measures to reduce greenhouse gasses… would result in 100,000 new jobs [in California and] boost the state economy by $27 billion.”
To build on this research, Google has proposed the Clean Energy 2030 plan. The problem is it will cost a mind-blowing $4.3 trillion dollars. (And we all thought $700 billion was a huge number!) There’s obviously no way we’ll ever afford it.
No?
By investing in more efficient systems, this plan will SAVE $5.4 trillion. You don’t need to be a mathematics genius to see 5.4 is bigger than 4.3! Is there any way we can’t NOT afford it?!
See, by pursuing greener lifestyles, not only do we get to keep a stunningly beautiful world to enjoy, but in doing so, it saves us money. So what exactly are we waiting for?
20 |
Wind Farms, Wind Farms, Everywhere… |
| New Jersey plans to install 96 wind turbines 16 miles offshore to produce enough electricity to power 125,000 homes. Likewise, Delaware will create an offshore farm of 150 turbines to power 100,000 homes. By creating wind farms miles out at see, planners hope to overcome that age-old objection to them - they’re just so damned ugly! If no one can see them, that old ‘not in my backyard’ argument simply evaporates. |
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19 |
Solar Thermal - Bigger is Better |
| Australia is set to create the world’s largest solar thermal plant capable of generating 100,000 homes by using the sun’s radiation to power steam turbines. Australia is aiming at producing a whopping 40% of it’s energy in this way by 2020. | |
18 |
Norway: A Rainforest’s Best Friend |
| Okay, strictly speaking this news came just a few days before Big Ben’s bells announced the arrival of 2008, but, hey, is good news ever too late or too early? Those wily Norwegians believe reducing deforestation in developing countries can quickly and inexpensively reduce climate change. To prove it, Norway is putting its money where its mouth is: it’s pledged $500 million per year to save the world’s rainforests. |
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17 |
Solar Comes of Age? |
| California will build two solar power plants that will generate 12 times as much electricity as the largest of today’s plants - 800 megawatts on sunny days. | |
16 |
111 Queens = World’s Biggest Wind Turbine
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| To be completed in 2012, the world’s biggest wind turbine will power 3700 average homes by producing 7.5 megawatts. Its wingspan will be the size of two football pitches and it will be 1.5 times as tall as Big Ben - that’s 111 Queens standing on top of one another! Okay, so it’s the biggest, that doesn’t mean it’s a major advancement towards replacing Britain’s power needs with green energy. However, high profile stories like this about the Queen of England bring green energy to the attention of people not normally aware of it. The more awareness there is, the more likely it is to be welcomed. |
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15 |
Europe’s Largest Onshore Wind Farm |
| Scotland will build Europe’s largest wind farm - 152 turbines will generate 456 megawatts for 320,000 households. This is part of the Scottish Government’s plan to generate 31% of Scotland’s electricity from renewable sources by 2011 and 50% by 2020. | |
14 |
Paid to be Green |
| The U.S. Government finally passed the bill on green tax credits meaning $17 billion will help people exploit wind, solar, geothermal power, and other green initiatives, even bicycle commuting. For the most consumer-driven, energy hungry nation on the planet, this is a major step towards reducing emissions and saving resources. |
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13 |
Protecting the Pristine in the U.S. |
| By the end 2008, conservation experts predict Congress could have established protection for 2 million acres of unspoiled land by placing it under federal control, as much as Congress has protected over the last five years. Pristine wilderness areas earmarked for this protection include Wild Sky Wilderness and West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest. |
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12 |
Cars Powered by Thought? |
| Okay, so we’ve got cars powered by water, electricity, and even air. What next? Cars powered on good intentions. If only! Whether it’s the green favourite the Prius, 60+ miles-per-gallon diesels like those built by Peugeot and Ford, ELV Motors’s 180 mpg scooter, or MDI’s new air-powered car, manufacturers are finally producing vehicles with better and better fuel consumption. Progress is slow, but it is progress. |
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11 |
World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm |
| After Shell pulled out, potentially dooming the project, things look set to push ahead to build a 1,000-megawatt farm to power 750,000 homes in London, England, creating the world’s largest offshore wind farm. And to think some people believe the weather makes living in England is a chore! Hey, when you’re the windiest country on the planet, just look what you can do! |
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Unfortunately, once written, this post was way, way too long, so I’ve split it and will be publishing 10 down to 1 next week. I hope you can wait that long! Don’t worry, it will be worth the wait - I promise you, there will be at least two stories that will amaze you!
So go. See. Feel. Live.
Steve
If you like my blog - the style, the passion, the philosophy - you’ll absolutely love ‘What if…?’, my suspense thriller. What’s it about?
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Related posts:
- Extinction – is there a Silver Lining?
- Top 10 Reasons Why Bestiality is Beautiful!
- Global Warming - the Beautiful Hoax!
- Top 10 Wildlife Conservation Triumphs of 2007/8
What do you think? Have your say - leave a comment!
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