With much of the world bemoaning rising prices and much of the complaint being about the price of fuel, this is bad news indeed.  But for the environment, surely, it's the best news.  Certainly for those of us who avoid driving it means much less or does it?

Better or Worse?

Bus travel is not particularly cheap in this country.  I pay £3.60 for a single 45 minute journey to Oxford!  The issue is demand - the buses are full perhaps twice a day.  Most of the rest of the day they have perhaps 5 paying customers per trip.  The high prices are required to pay for a regular service which not many people use.  Higher oil prices should push more people onto buses and reduce prices.  Although, of course, the cost of running the service will increase too!

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I wrote last week about the positive steps being taken by the Marine Stewardship Council to ensure sustainable fishing practices.  Today I saw this article reporting on a study clearly linking declining fish stocks to algal blooms (so-called 'toxic tides').  For me this situation drives home three things about sustainability.

Impact

Issues of sustainability lead through to real impact on people.  We may talk about a single marine ecosystem, but in reality there are no isolated ecosystems. While it is tempting to do so, it is always erroneous to disconnect activity from the impact it will have on us.

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I have to admit to a fascination with the current US election campaigns.  As the world's largest economy, we all have a stake in what happens on the 4th November 2008.  Sadly, news this week has put further weight behind my personal fear that economic difficulties will shunt environmental issues to the sidelines.

"Clinton pushes gas tax holiday"

Widely reported this week (here) is the curious concept of a tax holiday.  I cannot help but observe that in the UK a gallon of petrol is fast approaching £5 - that's $10.  In the US the average seems to be around $3.50!  This really proves my point, incomes in Europe and the US aren't too different, yet we Europeans cope with higher petrol prices.  How?  It is clear to me that in the US they are stuck in a vicious circle.  They have got away with having huge, inefficient cars for decades, but now the cost of that inefficiency is beginning to be felt where it hurts.

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In less than 20 years, the Grand Banks - a marine region off the coast of Canada - went from one of the richest fishing grounds in the world to a marine wasteland as overfishing destroyed the natural abundance (more).

Fishing is certainly one of the starkest examples of humanity's extraordinary proficiency at extracting what it wants from its habitat.  Where no vested interest exists to hold us back, we simply know no limits.

Marine Stewardship Council

I have recently heard about the MSC who are working towards reversing the trend and following the now quite familiar route of certifying products through regular audit and stringent standards.  It is somewhat inspiring to see that the very same characteristic that allows us to overfish - an ability to take control of and affect our situation - will allow us to solve the problem we created.

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Another week, another cringing episode of the Apprentice and another slightly pointless task for the devotees.  This week, they were asked to create a greetings card and a reason to send it.  It is hard to express quite how tragic this episode became as the pit became ever deeper and wider.

The Hypocrite and the Ignoramus

I don't know who was worse.  The team leader - Kevin - seemed only to love himself more than his sports car.  He told one of the buyers that if they didn't buy the cards, they would somehow be ostracised as environmental enemies.  Meanwhile the ginger one who came up with the idea told Clinton cards confidently that she actually buys fewer cards herself because of her concern for the environment but that was a reason to buy this card?!  They even managed to re-invent Earth Day as "Love your Planet Day".  

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I'm making a point of staying out of non-environmental issues on this blog.  But when the collision is so close, I can't help but comment.  This morning I heard about a knock-on effect of the closure of power stations in the Gaza strip.

Untreated Sewage

The reporter spoke from a beach next to an outlet pipe from a sewage plant.  Under normal conditions, the plant would treat the sewage before ejecting it - whether this is acceptable is another question!  The reporter made a point of highlighting the look - a grey discolouration in the water - and the smell - overpowering and evident.  Further unfortunate and telling evidence of our priorities as a race.  

On this evidence, it seems we still cannot rise above our differences and tackle the collective threat.  I still believe, though, that the environment can be a unifying issue.  It is still one of the few areas where the global incentive is the same, whatever country you belong to.

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Over the last week, I've been adding a large new shop to griinu Compare - this means around 2000 new products! A particular minefield is the plethora of cosmetic and health products. Ingredients are the greatest concern at this point.  But we also want to consider place of manufacture, method of manufacture, working conditions, packaging and social contribution. 

What are they really using?

Trust is a big issue in the modern world and a trusted brand name brings a lot of weight.  Even so, a product described as organic may contain a few organic ingredients but not 100%.  Equally, a product described as natural could contain, well almost anything! To enhance trust, we try to use certifications as a measure.  But does that limit the scope of the products available too much?  Certainly the number of manufacturers with certifications is low compared to the number selling organic or naturally 'branded' products. 

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The amazing thing about LED bulbs is that you can feel the energy being saved - they don't get hot!  Almost 5 years ago, new white-light LEDs were announced.  So today, you'd think we'd be trying to ban compact fluorescent bulbs (ie tuby ones!) let alone incandescent  bulbs (ie old-fashioned ones!). 

Priced Out of the Market...

Spotlights are ideal for LEDs as they tend to be clustered in groups anyway and they do get very hot.  The problem is the cost - we list them here at £8.95 each - here.  A pack is better value but still a significant investment.  You can buy halogen spotlight bulbs for as little as £1.68 each - here.

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With a major review looming (see RFA for more info), I've taken a little look at the biofuels debate.  Biofuels are marred by uncertainty and debate.  The only inevitability seems to be that the decision made will be bad!

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When someone thought of paying farmers not to produce something, people must have thought it was bad idea.  Quite so.  When people get hold of the idea that farmers get paid to do nothing they tend to become somewhat vexed!

Take Two!

Actually we are paying for the privalege of not having vast over-production and we are paying for farmland to be kept in a good state and to provide sustainable habitats for wildlife.  There is a definite grace to killing two birds with one stone. But was the policy really about keeping production down in a time of plenty - and so avoiding bad PR associated with dumping food on world markets or in the North Sea.  Or was it about biodiversity and sustainability?

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Today the Bank of England joined the race to the bottom on the interest rate scale - a 0.25% rate cut - not quite as dramatic as the Fed but then the BoE doesn't have to care about people - only inflation. 

They Sound So Mean! 

But what would they have done if their primary goal had been to keep carbon emissions down?  Let's rename them the "Carbon Bank of England" and have a think.

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Check out yesterday's report on You and Yours (audio).  A planning application for wind turbines in the Humber Gateway has recently been objected to by the Ministry of Defence because it may interfere with a radar installation.  A text report here.

Huh?

So the Ministry of Defence cannot handle interference from stationary, permanent objects?  How can they not be able to find a technical solution to this?  Surely the problem has been encountered before?  What do they do about other similar objects - surely trees are often similar in size and shape and even move in the wind.

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Looking backwards while moving forwards is the way I like to think of the home power station. 

Here's an example 

A brief tour of a Canadian off-grid house and its technology.

No more than a few hundred years ago, almost all energy would have been generated at the place of use - home, factory, school etc.  In the 20^th century, economies of scale and poor technology demanded centralisation.  In the 21^st centry we can look back to the model and apply modern technology to make generating energy at the point of use cheaper and easier.

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The question on my mind today is if the world is over-populated, under-resourced and bursting at the seams, is the most ethical way to live not to live at all?  As with the best dilemmas, I present to you an argument between me and, ... me!

To live or not to live?

The UK's "Ecological Footprint" is on average 5.45 "global hectares" (gha) per person.  The global capacity is 1.8 gha per person.  While I've no doubt different calculations can provide slightly different numbers the trend is clear - we each use more than our fair share of resources.  Death could be seen as the ultimate green action of the hyper-environmentalist.

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Well, well, well.  Eco-towns!

The first barrier to jump is of course "eco".  Firstly, what is "eco"?  Secondly, how can this standard be achieved?  Then you've got to ask the question - would the homes be built anyway - eco or not?  Then you have to consider why the homes are being built.  Finally, you come to the question why are they branded as "eco".

What is Eco?

No answers here I'm afraid.  Perhaps "eco" is in the eye of the beholder.  Whatever it is, there is an implication of sustainability, environmental benefit and quality.   To say the least, it is - or it should be - a high bar to reach.

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I commented on a post on the Big Green Switch today.  It got me thinking.  Energy saving is becoming more and more financially viable.  Indeed, you could go so far as to say it's becoming a financial imperitive - either from new taxes or price rises.  I'm going to have a look at the available savings from various forms of energy saving devices.

Solar Hot Water 

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The Age of Sustainability?

It occurred to me this morning, listening to the news, that the agenda is increasingly being defined by environmental considerations. Today, we have a new terminal opened at Heathrow, hammering home the juxtaposition that so many politicians hold over the environment and aviation.

Meanwhile EU leaders agreed at least in principle to cut emissions from 1990 levels by 20% by 2020. And our leader Gordon's efforts to cut the rate of VAT on Energy Saving Lightbulbs seemed to be making inroads, against expectations.

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Listening avidly to Alistair Darling's debut, it seemed most commentators had pretty dull expectations.  The interest in environmental and green measures is always there though, because they are fundamentally budget neutral - you tax polluters and give breaks for positive actions.

Some Disappointments

Well, he bottled out over fuel duty, delaying the rise til October.  Sure it's expensive but my Sister told me only last night that she chooses to drive to work because it's simply cheaper.  That can't be right.  Aviation's inclusion in emissions trading would be suggested.  Road congestion charging will be tendered.  Plastic bags will be left for the private sector another year.

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Isn't that just political-correctness

I got myself into a real fervour about the flipant nature of the "Gardners' Question Time" contribution to getting people excited about what plants they can grown when our climate warms up.  When our climate warms up! 

Naturally I wanted to shout about it on the Griinu Blog.  Just as I started, I caught myself though.  I'm turning into (already?) an eco-correct whinger.

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With high hopes and visions of a cooking revolution - perhaps even me in the masterchef final I went ahead with my experiment.  Despite a determination to succeed and a well-thought-through premise, I have not achieved this goal!

3 Hours In

After 3 hours, I tested the spaghetti.  The boiled-glass had cooked to some extent and was certainly soft.  However it appeared powdery.  The cold-glass was still quite hard but also chewable.

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Anyone who knows me, knows that I live off pasta and that without it, I actually get withdrawal symptoms.

Inspired by a slightly random tip I found on Big Green Switch, I have decided to try a little experiment!

The Hypothesis

That I can cook about 150g of spaghetti (Sainsbury's own label economy) without a hob.

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Leather is a really interesting case and illustrates the tight bind that you can get into with these types of decisions.

Ecology versus Ethics

Are all ecologically sound products necessarily ethically sound?  Are all ethically sound products necessarily ecologically sound?  There is not a balance in this equation.  It's also vital to know more about a product than simply the component materials.  Leather can be made in more ecologically sound ways and being naturally derived will tend to have a lower embodied energy.  Vegans, however, would certainly dispute its ethical credentials!

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It's that oh-so-exciting time on the political calendar - the Budget!

The extraordinary thing about politics and news in the last year is the space given to the environmental agenda.  This budget seems like it won't be too different.

Technology

I have to admit to loving gadgets and I love to see an innovative solution to avoid waste or to create something from nothing (or very little).  Solar products fascinate me because they run and run and run but unlike Duracell batteries which definitely will run out eventually, solar panels will never stop (even when it's cloudy!).

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I awoke this morning to news of Tate & Lyle's semi-conversion to Fair Trade.  John Humphries interviewed a representative from the Adam Smith Institute and the Fair Trade Foundation.  Two economic sparring partners who clearly clashed with vigour!

He's a Believer!?

I graduated in Economics and I have even read half of Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations".  Adam Smith seemed to me someone whose views (or observations?) might have been used out of convenience.  I sought in this little post, to show that in fact Adam Smith may have advocated the market-distorting Fair Trade system.

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After a year of an exponentially increasing profile for green and environmental issues, it seems most companies are catching up with the 'game'.  Leaving aside the issue of whether these companies are doing it for the right reason and whether it really makes a difference, I have just encountered something of an impressive green blunder.

Clearly, size matters

"Colgate Total Professional Weekly Clean is a new and innovative addition to regular toothpaste, therefore we have changed the packaging to demonstrate this."  Let's be clear.  The 'cassette' style packet is about 15cm x 8cm x 1.5cm.  This makes it about the size of a small diary.  The tube contains 20ml of toothpaste and is about 8cm x 1.5cm.  The packet is stiff cardboard moulded to plastic.  It cost (in Sainsbury's) £3.79 which comes to nearly £20 if you bought the equivalent volume of a normal-sized tube (100ml).

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After posting an intro into Paris as potentially the most 'Eco' city in the world, I've been walking around seeing things which I should have included! Here's a bit more coverage then and be warned, I have almost certainly missed things off so further posts may well appear on this topic!

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The really great thing about being greener is it can combine better technology with sustainability with pure common sense.  After going through the entire griinu Compare catalog it is apparent that there are different scales of green-ness in products.

Thinner and Stronger 

Listening to You and Yours on Radio4 this week, I heard a story about new thinner glass bottles.  A leader here seems to be Adnams whose supplier O-I who won a "gold star" in the Starpack Awards 2007.  It shows how some effort and human ingenuity can create more sustainable designs.  Details.

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Where do I begin!

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Here's a traditional dilemma for the conscious shopper:

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So where did our green and fair trade, fair world endeavours begin? Was it with the formation of the United Nations in the post-war world? Was it when President Kennedy lifted us with hope and energy at one of the high points in his inaugural address? to join the “struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.”

Or did they begin some 30 Years later at Rio, Brazil in 1992, when an unprecedented array of 179 Heads of State and Government (the largest assembly of world leaders ever seen at the time) gathered to agree upon the basis for “Agenda 21”? This was the Earth Summit and Agenda 21 was a comprehensive blueprint for sustainable development into the 21st Century.

Or some 15 years later, do our endeavours begin now? Well I’d like to think so, for those who haven’t commenced their actions already. I’d certainly like to hope so, yet with all the different claims and counterclaims about what’s actually happening to us and our planet, sometimes it seems simpler to just do something else.

There are those of us, who are lost in the jungles of suspicion and scepticism, where our only compass is that of scientific evidence, beyond doubt. We could at the very least begin by first attempting to understand more clearly the meaning of the word sustainability.

There are those of us who recognise the problems yet want the ‘best’ solutions to be implemented. This can often end up being a battle of ideas, for example with the proposition that nuclear power is the only green solution.

If we suppose that the best solutions could be where we act together then why don’t we reassess the consensus position achieved in 1992’s Rio Summit, a position that attempted to fuse ‘sustainability’ with ‘economy’. Why don’t we consider again the solutions placed before us in Agenda 21?

One of the interesting outcomes of Rio was that local councils could produce their own Local Agenda 21. The reasoning being that people in the area who have local knowledge are best suited to make sensible decisions for their future.

Within that local community then, Agenda 21 is a potentially powerful guide for individuals, businesses and governments. This is especially so when making choices and decisions for sustainable progress and development.

Agenda 21 is a huge document, with 40 chapters in 4 sections. It deals with:

Social and economic dimensions;- developing countries; poverty; consumption patterns; population; health; human settlements; integrating environment and development.

Conservation and management of resources:- atmosphere; land; forests; deserts; mountains; agriculture; biodiversity; biotechnology; oceans; fresh water; toxic chemicals; hazardous radioactive and solid waste and sewage.

Strengthening the role of significant stakeholders:- women; children and youth; indigenous peoples; non-governmental organisations; local authorities; workers; business and industry; farmers; scientists and technologists.

Means of implementation:- finance; technology transfer; science; education; capacity-building; international institutions; legal measures; information.

Yes that’s a lot of information. However if it’s our world as much as anyone else’s, then surely it must be our responsibility to be well informed.

That’s all well and good. However, some might say, what if I don’t have the time? What if I’m very busy? What do I do?

Do we need children to shame us? Some might say that problems can also be solved.

A children’s edition of Agenda 21 with contributions from 10,000 children in over 100 countries entitled Rescue Mission Planet Earth is very readable with pretty pictures. However it also focuses our minds towards solutions from a youthful perspective. As a result it’s more relevant, urgent, effective and possibly even more suited for today’s busy adults.

President Kennedy saw the potential of youth. His most successful legacy of the Peace Corps is testament to that. He also saw the value of the United Nations, (who helped publish produced “Rescue Mission”) referring to it as “our last best hope”.

We may feel there's a challenge facing us. Those of us who rise with the challenge then, rise with an emerald dawn.

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The typical problem for for environmental commentator is how can I stop sounding like a cynical kill-joy hell-bent on making people live uncomfortable lives growing potatoes?

I love this juxta-position.  It's something that makes thinking about the environment and taking action on it that bit more interesting.  I was reading up on some of the week's environmental news and I can across this report on the Today programme.  Shell Springboard grants money to organisations "who submit the most compelling plans for a product or service which helps combat climate change." (from shellspringboard.org).

The Pessimist Rises... 

No doubt any British reader will also be aware of the recent news of Shell's triumphant profit of more than £13.9bn.  Well I like a bit of maths.  The £13.9bn makes £38m per day, £1.5m per hour and about £26,000 per minute.  So £40,000 is just over 1.5 minutes of work.  Apparently they gave 8 awards in 2006.  Somehow, I feel Shell could be a little more generous.

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