Countries across the world set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The governments across the world revises their plans to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in support of the Copenhagen (COP15) climate summit. 

Several nations which signed up to the summit accord were asked to outline pledges by this Sunday i.e. Jan 31, 2010 and states producing at least two-thirds of emissions have done so.

The COP15 accord has been widely accounted as a disappointment for not reaching a treaty however, the kind of support it is gaining is indicating that the prospects of a legally binding deal may emerge in the later part of the year.

Several developing countries across the world which are facing the worst impacts from climate change seem quite willing to sign up to the agreement, as this would include firm level of commitments on funding in both the short and the medium terms.

Though a few others are unhappy with the idea that the accord could emerge as a new basis of negotiations towards a legally binding treaty, and it can be feared that some may refuse to associate with it.

Several Leading emitters such as the US, India, China and the EU have already written in whereas some of the smaller emitters have also sent pledges or asked to be associated with the deal.The Secretariat of the United Nation's Climate Change says that it will publish a list of signatories on Monday.

Last year's December Copenhagen climate conference reached an accord including a recognition to limit temperature rises to less than 2C (3.6F). It also promised to deliver $30bn (£18.5bn) worth of financial aid for developing nations over the next three years, to cope with the impact of climate change, and further funds to help them reduce emissions.

But analysts across the world say the accord looks unlikely to contain temperature rises to within 2C, the threshold that UN scientists say is needed to avert serious climate change.

US-LED COPENHAGEN DEAL

• No reference to legally binding agreement
• Recognises the need to limit global temperatures rising no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels
• Developed countries to "set a goal of mobilising jointly $100bn a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries"
• On transparency: Emerging nations monitor own efforts and report to UN every two years. Some international checks
• No detailed framework on carbon markets - "various approaches" will be pursued

Updated: 13:47 GMT, 19 December

Climate deal: Key issues
Analysis: Where's the beef?
World's media reacts to deal

Environmentalists and aid agencies have branded it a failure, but UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the deal as an "essential beginning".

BBC environment reporter Matt McGrath says the accord lacks teeth and does not include any clear targets on cutting emissions.

But if most countries at least signal what they intend to do to cut their emissions, it will mark the first time that the UN has a comprehensive written collection of promised actions, he says.

The next round of negotiations is due to be held in December in Cancun, Mexico.

It is unclear whether a legally binding deal can be reached at Cancun, amid uncertainties such as about whether the US Congress can pass a bill which includes emissions reductions.

Source: BBC News

Beijing won't be 'bullied' on climate

BEIJING: As a Sunday target date approaches for countries to submit to the United Nations their plans for fighting climate change, China is banding together with other major developing nations to stress that only the wealthier countries need to make internationally binding commitments.

So while China, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, might put down in writing its targets for curbing emissions, it will make clear that those efforts are voluntary steps it plans to take domestically that should not imply a binding international commitment.

The distinction reflects China's strong desire to cast climate change policy as a sovereignty issue in the aftermath of rancorous negotiations last month at the environmental summit meeting in Copenhagen.

Beijing says developed nations, which emitted carbon dioxide without restriction over many decades of industrialization, cannot force developing countries to submit to international policies or regulations.

Source: TOI

Pollution control: India ranks 123rd

WASHINGTON: India and China rank 123rd and 121st in pollution control respectively, reflecting the strain rapid economic growth imposes on the environment, according to the 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI). 

However, among the other newly industrialised nations Brazil and Russia rank 62nd and 69th, suggesting that the level of development is just one of many factors affecting pollution control. 

Iceland leads the world in addressing pollution control and natural resource management challenges, according to the index produced by a team of environmental experts at Yale University and Columbia University. 

Presented Thursday at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2010, the EPI ranks 163 countries on their performance across 25 metrics aggregated into ten categories including environmental health, air quality, water resource management, biodiversity and habitat, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and climate change. 

Iceland's top-notch performance derives from its high scores on environmental public health, controlling greenhouse gas emissions, and reforestation, according to a media release from Yale University. Other high performers include Switzerland, Costa Rica, Sweden, and Norway.

Source: Times of India

'Block the sun, control global warming'

TORONTO: Canadian and US scientists want to block the sun to cool the earth and limit global warming. 

Research and field-testing on what they call "geo-engineering" of the earth's atmosphere to limit risk of climate change must begin quickly, say scientists from the University of Calgary in Canada, and the University of Michigan and Carnegie Mellon University in the US. 

Studies on geo-engineering or solar radiation management (SRM) should be undertaken collectively with government funding, rather that unilaterally by nations, argue the scientists. 

They say SRM would involve releasing mega-tonnes of light-scattering aerosol particles in the upper atmosphere to reduce earth's absorption of solar energy, thereby cooling the planet. 

Another technique would be to release particles of sea salt to make low-altitude clouds reflect more solar energy back into space, the scientists say. 

"Collaborative and government-supported studies on solar-radiation management will help identify technologies to combat climate change," writes David Keith of Calgary university in an article in Nature this week. 

"Solar-radiation management may be the only human response that can fend off rapid and high-consequence climate change impacts. The risks of not doing research outweigh the risks of doing it," says Keith, who has co-authored the opinion piece with Edward Parson at the University of Michigan and Granger Morgan at Carnegie Mellon University. 

However, SRM should not take the place of deep cuts in industrial greenhouse gas emissions and taking action to adapt to climate change, say the scientists. 

They say: "We must develop the capability to do SRM in a manner that complements such cuts, while managing the associated environmental and political risks." 

The scientists want governments worldwide to establish a global research budget for SRM. This budget should grow about $10 million to $1 billion a year between now and 2020, they say. 

They say research results should be made available to every nation and risk assessments be as transparent and international as possible.

Source: TOI

Is it possible to Neutralize the Carbons ?

From fragrance to chocolates, we are now being offered carbon-offset products. But is there a catch?

Our per capita carbon footprint stands at 9.7 tonnes each every year - think of it as six hot-air balloons full of CO2. Illustration: Rob Biddulph

It is notoriously difficult to move a muscle without creating a carbon penalty, and mitigating this can be a full-time obsession (as evidenced by No Impact Man, noimpactproject.org). As if our per capita carbon footprint wasn't big enough at 9.7 tonnes each every year (think of it as six hot-air balloons full of CO₂) this winter's cold weather could cause it to swell. In the absence of any meaningful low-carbon power generation system, we retreat to burning huge quantities of coal to fulfil increased power demand. Coal use explains why Australians weigh in with a thunderous annual output of 20.5 tonnes of CO₂ per person.

In order to neutralise these balloons full of atmospheric gas, you must perfectly balance the emissions created with the emissions removed or absorbed on your behalf. This is easier said than done.

Increasingly we're encouraged to devolve this responsibility to manufacturers. First they assess the climatic impact of a sock or bag of crisps, then they reduce it as far as possible and offset the remaining emissions. But how do they do this, and is it effective? Frustratingly, carbon neutrality (CN) is currently a very fluid description. And while a British standard, PAS 2060, is in development (manufacturers will be able to pay to get this standard provided they meet designated criteria), at the moment there is no enshrined definition.

I can, however, tell you what it smells like, courtesy of EOS, the world's first carbon-neutral fragrance line. These scents have bioester top notes (from hybridised bacteria) instead of the petrochemicals typically found in perfumes. Bioesters utilise cellulosic biomass – in this case organic spent brewery grain. The theory being that as the wheat grew it absorbed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere equal to the amount released during processing and manufacturing.

Similarly, you can purchase everything from carbon- neutral hemp socks, chocolate and soap to cakes. By 2015, you'll be able to take advantage of a CO₂ neutral Royal Mail service, and by the end of this year, open a CO₂ neutral bank account with Yorkshire Bank. Eighty Acres offers five types of CO₂ neutral wine. Buy this and you help increase the composting facilities for 350,000 Australians of Perth's Southern Metropolitan suburb (which might help with those huge emissions).

You might feel this is a circuitous way of cutting your emissions. I'd agree. The best way to tackle your footprint is to make an emissions reduction right here, right now. There are so many "social nutrition" labels jostling for attention on products these days that I have to ask myself, would I pick carbon neutral over fair trade? Some, such as Dolfin chocolate (Belgium's first CO₂ neutralised chocolatier), have both, which makes it easy. Otherwise, the answer is probably no. And as for the carbon-neutral ashtray someone kindly sent me (it saves energy in manufacture and offsets by planting trees), that takes the carbon neutral biscuit.★

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

NGO’s drive aims at protecting Indian varieties

This will provide some food for thought. And, not genetically modified at that! As the hullabaloo over Bt brinjal continues, Greenpeace-India on Thursday launched a unique campaign to garner support for its opposition to the commercial planting of the genetically engineered vegetables in India. The NGO plans to prepare the “world’s biggest baingan bharta” in Delhi “sometime later this month”. This, it said, will be an exciting way to persuade Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to protect Indian brinjal.

The baingan bharta — which the NGO claims will be the ‘biggest’ ever made and a ‘world record’ at that — will have one brinjal for every person who signs the petition that says: “India should not allow our brinjals to be contaminated by corporations with American interests.” The target: 10,000 brinjals for the grand bharta plan! 

“The campaign launched this evening has already seen 4,500 signatures so far. We expect the numbers to cross well past the 10,000-mark. Though the nitty-gritty is being finalised, the grand exercise is likely to be held sometime around February 20 (when Ramesh is expected to decide his stance on the contentious issue),” Jaikrishna, a spokesperson of Greenpeace-India, told The Pioneer from Bangalore over phone. The memorandum with 10,000 signatures will be handed over to Ramesh. 

This effort is both to mobilise support against Bt brinjal as also to enter into the record books, he said and added the NGO would contribute the brinjals on behalf of those signing up their petition. “It could be a mix of organic brinjals and ordinary ones procured from markets. It will be cooked at one place. But the cost involved hasn’t been worked out as yet. We know it will involve major logistics in terms of chefs, cooking utensils and manpower among others,” Jaikrishna maintained.

Environment Lesson 8: Agriculture Landscapes

Sustainable agriculture takes many forms, but at its core is a rejection of the industrial approach to food production developed during the 20th century.

This system, with its reliance on monoculture, mechanization, chemical pesticides and fertilizers, biotechnology, and government subsidies, has made food abundant and affordable. However, the ecological and social price has been steep: erosion; depleted and contaminated soil and water resources; loss of biodiversity; deforestation; labor abuses; and the decline of the family farm.

The concept of sustainable agriculture embraces a wide range of techniques, including organic, free-range, low-input, holistic, and biodynamic.

The common thread among these methods is an embrace of farming practices that mimic natural ecological processes. Farmers minimize tilling and water use; encourage healthy soil by planting fields with different crops year after year and integrating croplands with livestock grazing; and avoid pesticide use by nurturing the presence of organisms that control crop-destroying pests.

Eco-friendly batteries from Akai

Akai of Japan has launched, for the first time in India, its range of batteries, claimed to be eco-friendly because they contain no mercury or cadmium. The range includes zinc chloride, alkaline, rechargeable and ready-to-use batteries.


Country Head, Akai Energy India Ltd, S. L. Naryanan, said after the first year if the market growth is promising, Akai might set up a local manufacturing plant for the batteries, possibly with its licensee for India, Bangalore-based Unitech Trades and Imports, as partner. “In the first year of operations we expect to gain 7 per cent of the Rs. 1,800-crore Indian market for batteries,” he added. For now, the batteries will be imported from Japan.


“Market trends indicate dry batteries have volumes of Rs. 1,800 crore with a 6-8 per cent growth; CFL batteries have a 20-25 per cent share amounting to Rs. 1,200 crore and the fastest growing segment, LED torches, have 25-30 per share with Rs. 3,000-crore sales. Among batteries, rechargeable varieties have the highest growth of around 26-30 per cent,” Mr. Narayanan said.


Globally, all batteries together had an average annual growth of 6-7 per cent. This was the same in India too. The first phase of the launch would cover nine States, including Karnataka and Tamil Nadu with the rest of the country covered over one year. By then, Akai would also have launched its CFL lamps, lanterns and torches.


The present launch included refresh technology chargers for professional photographers and cameramen.


Source: Hindu

Climate: India wants Kyoto, Bali working groups to be convened

NEW DELHI: The Manmohan Singh government, which defended the Copenhagen Accord in Parliament and rejected the Opposition’s charge that it would undermine the future of UNFCCC process in climate negotiations, is now veering round to same sentiments. It has asked the Danish government to ensure the centrality of the two track negotiating process. 

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh has written to his Danish counterpart Lykke Friis asking that a meeting of the two ad hoc working groups — one for the Kyoto Protocol and the other on the Bali Action Plan track — be convened “no later than March 2010.” Denmark is the current president of the Conference of Parties. 

Writing on behalf of the BASIC group, Mr Ramesh conveyed the support of the four countries to the Accord. The support was not unqualified. “However, we felt that the centrality of the UNFCCC process must be preserved.” For this purpose, India has asked that “in line with the discussions at COP-15, the two track negotiating process along AWG-KP and AWG-LCA must be urgently activated in the run up to the COP 16.” Expressing a sense of urgency, India has reminded Denmark that as COP president, it has “a major responsibility in discharging mandate.” 

The letter also asks the Danish presidency to notify all parties of a calendar of meeting of the two working group. While the first meeting should held no later than March, Mr Ramesh has suggested at least five meetings before COP 16 meeting, which is to be held in end November in Mexico. “The next meeting of parties has been scheduled in May-June 2010. We should utilise the time available till June more profitably for formal meetings. 

Concerns that the UNFCCC process could be undermined are not completely unfounded. The United States, which was key player in Copenhagen, would like the accord to run parallel to the UNFCCC process in the Major Economies Forum. The EU had suggested that the G-20 be the forum for future climate negotiations. A possible middle path has been suggested by German chancellor Angela Merkel. She has proposed that the future course of action be decided at the heads of state/government level. Therefore, suggesting a heads of state and government meeting in Bonn, which is to be held prior to the intersessional meet. 

Lead American negotiators, Todd Stern and Jonathan Pershing, have expressed concerns about the viability of negotiating a climate deal in a forum of 192 countries. An argument that is borne out by the fact that the accord was not adopted by the COP because of objections raised by four small developing countries. 

Washington is of the view that the objections will not go away in time for the summit in Mexico. Instead, it has suggested the Major Economies Forum as the platform. Mr Jonathan Pershing, who the deputy climate envoy, has suggested that the portions of the Copenhagen Accord were drawn from the MEF’s L’Aquila declaration in July, and that the Forum has made progress in arranging co-operation among its members to develop new low-carbon technologies.

Source: ET

Solar, wind feel heat from low natural gas prices

BOSTON--Relatively clean natural gas, not dirty coal, is a major hurdle to broader use of solar and wind power in the near term, according to a Morgan Stanley banker.

Paul Leggett, who oversees Morgan Stanley's clean energy banking practice, provided a snapshot of the green-tech investment area to professionals in advance of the GoingGreen East conference in March here on Friday. Overall, he foresees significant activity in the clean-energy areas this year, driven mostly by concerns over the economy and energy security, despite financial and policy challenges.

One is the low price of natural gas, used to make electricity at power plants. Even though the cost of solar and wind power installations continue to go down, having natural gas near ten-year lows makes it tougher to compete strictly on price, Leggett said. "It's one of the biggest threats to what we need to do in the clean-energy sector," he said.

Politically, natural gas has a lot of allies as well. Large reserves have been located in Pennsylvania, making it a domestic fuel and, if more supply comes online, prices could go down further. Environmentally, it's far less polluting than coal.

Environment Lesson 7: Oceans

The gargantuan bodies of water which are surrounding the continents are really critical to humankind. But overfishing and global warming threaten to leave this vital habitat barren.

An ocean is considered to be a continuous source of abundant saltwater which covers more than about 70 percent of the whole Earth's surface. The ocean currents are the ones who majorly govern the world's weather and churn a kaleidoscope of life. Humans also depend largely on these teeming waters for comfort and survival, but global warming and overfishing threaten to leave the ocean agitated and empty.

The geographers divide these oceans into four major sections: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic. Smaller ocean regions are called seas, gulfs, and bays, such as the Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the Bay of Bengal. Some stand-alone bodies of the abundant saltwater like the Caspian Sea and the Great Salt Lake are distinct from the world's oceans.

The oceans themselves consists of about 320 million cubic miles (1.35 billion cubic kilometers) of water, which is roughly around 97 percent of Earth's total water supply. The water is about 3.5 percent salt and contains traces of all chemical elements found on Earth. The oceans absorb the sun's heat, transferring it to the atmosphere and distributing it around the world via the ever-moving ocean currents. This drives global weather patterns and acts as a heater in the winter and an air conditioner in the summer.

Most of the ocean's plant life consists of microscopic algae called phytoplankton that float at the surface and through photosynthesis produce about half of the oxygen that humans and all other terrestrial creatures breathe. Seaweed and kelp are big algae easily visible to the naked eye. Marine plants with roots, like seagrasses, can only survive as deep as the sun’s rays can support photosynthesis—about 650 feet (200 meters). Nearly half of the ocean is more than 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) deep.

Major breakthrough made in nuclear-waste sequestration

The researchers at Northwestern University are in the process of developing a new method for removing radioactive materials from liquid nuclear waste.

The group of scientists led by Mercouri G. Kanatzidis, a Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University, announced their breakthrough on Tuesday. The group's paper described the process metaphorically to how a Venus flytrap closes after absorbing a fly in its grip, while letting other objects pass by.

At the molecular level the radioactive ion cesium found in liquid nuclear waste passes through "holes" in a porous metal-sulfide material via an ion-exchange process. Meanwhile, harmless substances like sodium ions are allowed to pass through.

The cesium itself triggers a response in the material's structure causing its atoms, which are arranged in a layered and porous pattern, to "close up" around the cesium. Once the cesium is captured, the structure keeps its "holes" closed preventing the radioactive cesium from leaching out while letting other materials pass by.

"Seeing the windows close was completely unexpected. We expected ion exchange--we didn't expect the material to respond dynamically. This gives us a new mechanism to focus on," Kanatzidis said in a statement.

Kanatzidis published his group's results in the February issue of Nature Chemistry.

Source: news.cnet.com

Is clean tech China's moon shot?

DAVOS, Switzerland--So far, wind turbines are not Sputnik. But one day they could be.

The global race to develop clean technology is not just about who can build the best solar parks or wind farms. It is also shaping up as a contest between Chinese-style capitalism and the more market-oriented approach fancied by the United States and Europe.

The question comes down to this: will China's highly capitalized command-and-control economy trump laissez-faire in a low-carbon shift that is widely portrayed as the next industrial revolution?

The failure in Copenhagen to agree to replace the Kyoto Protocol with a new global climate treaty when it expires in 2012 has thrown the focus on national measures. And by almost all accounts, the Chinese are coming on strong.

Beijing's top leaders have made clear their intention to have their nation dominate this new industry, up and down the value ladder. And in their quest for the prize, they are not burdened by concerns facing their Western counterparts--such as the impact of wind turbines on landscapes, higher energy prices for consumers, or investor returns.

"Developed markets need to be aware that China is gaining in this space," said David Russell, co-head of responsible investment at the 28 billion pound ($45 billion) British universities pension fund, the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).

The recession has made it tougher for Europe and America to effect meaningful climate policy change. And with most major nations piling on debt to stimulate flagging economies, politicians likely will find it harder to earmark additional voter money for clean technology.

Instead, recession-hit Western economies are hoping the private sector can plug an estimated worldwide $150 billion annual funding gap to avoid more extreme droughts and floods.

But investors almost always follow the returns, and if the performance is not there, they are not likely to risk their capital. For example, Britain's USS allocates about half a percent of its assets to low-carbon and renewable energy funds, not including its investment in conventional energy companies, which themselves will have some green tinges.

Going Green… also means You Eat Well !

Many foods contain chemicals such as preservatives, hormones, artificial flavors and colors, and a host of other ingredients that can harm both the consumer and the environment. A positive goal is to purchase and consume the most natural foods and create healthy, simple meals that do not harm us or our surroundings.

Few "Green" Food Tips

Choose Organic Food:-  Organically-grown and produced foods taste better--and they’re better for you and the environment.

Eat Seasonal, Locally Grown Foods:-  Reduce the pollution associated with trucking (or flying) in distantly-produced foods and support your local farms at the same time.
Choose Whole Foods:-  Avoid white foods--refined white flour and sugar for example--and use natural whole grains and sweeteners instead.

Avoid Processed and Fast Foods:-  When we choose foods that are natural and minimally processed, we avoid hydrogenated trans fats and many chemical food additives such as neurotoxin food dyes, that can cause health problems.

Buy in Bulk:-  Much of the garbage we generate is packaging; buying in bulk reduces a significant amount of waste. (Buying food in bulk saves your money, too.)

Wash your Fruits and Veggies:-  Try this all-natural veggie wash formula to remove chemical residue and bacteria. Fill one spray bottle with vinegar, and one with hydrogen peroxide. Rinse produce, and then spray with vinegar. Rinse and spray with hydrogen peroxide. Repeat two more times, then rinse thoroughly.

Eat Low on the Food Chain:-   Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain .This is especially true for seafood .

Go Green… also means You Eat Well!


Contributed by Vandana Goyal, Noida.

Ferrari hybrid set to rule the roads soon

Ferrari will soon unveil the hybrid ferrari at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March, the company's chairman confirmed this Thursday.

The rumors of a hybrid Ferrari prototype based on the Ferrari 599 GTB, which debuted at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, have long been making the rounds.

Ferrari filings with the European Patent Office for a "4WD system with hybrid propulsion" were reported in June. At the time, Ferrari confirmed it was developing hybrid technology and hinted at a release within the year, but did not specify when.

Since then, there has been much speculation (and outrage by some purists) about a hybrid version of the iconic sports car. Thursday was the first official confirmation that it will appear at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

"It has to be the avant-garde in automobile technology. We're constructing cars with an enormous part of the innovative technology. We'll present a 599 hybrid in Geneva, which will represent a great path towards the future," Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo said in Maranello, Italy, at the presentation of the 2010 Formula One Ferrari.

Confirmation of his statement and a video of the event were released simultaneously on Ferrari's F1 Web site.

What remains to be seen is whether the prototype makes it to even limited production and whether Ferrari aficionados and buyers will find such a car blasphemous or forward-thinking.

Source: news.cnet.com

Researchers finds bacteria to make biodiesel

The Biofuel start-up LS9 and some of  the California researchers claimed a success in converting non-food biomass into biodiesel using a genetically modified form of e. coli bacteria.

This research done by the fellows of University of California at Berkeley and the U.S. Department of Energy's Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), looks like a huge success to a step toward lowering the cost of making biodiesel from chips, corn stover, wood and some other residual agricultural products. The group published its results in the journal Nature on Wednesday.

A diagram of LS9's one-step process for converting biomass into diesel fuel.

(Credit: LS9)

LS9 is one of a handful of U.S. synthetic biology companies that are trying to manipulate the microorganisms to convert plants into liquid fuels or plastics.

Upcoming plans from LS9 next week, would follow with the announcement of the planned location of a demonstration facility in the U.S. to convert the sugar cane into biodiesel using an existing organism, said Stephen del Cardayre, the vice president of research and development at the company. He said that the plant, which will use an existing microorganism, will open this summer and pave the way for large-scale manufacturing and sales in 2012, he said.

LS9's research with the University of California and the Department of Energy also has a clear focus on a single-step biorefinery process. But researchers tuned another strain of e. coli that can work with different feedstocks, such as straw or wood. Those cellulosic feedstocks are typically harder to convert into fuel through fermentation than sugar cane or corn, but offer the potential of lower overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Del Cardayre saide that this second-generation process would still take "a few years" to develop further. But since it avoids costly pretreatment processes, it gives a huge promise to lower the cost of production. "This demonstrates for the first time that you can engineer e. coli to leverage complex biomass feedstocks and convert them into advanced biofuels, which is how you connect the dots to lower cost," he said.

Source: news.cnet.com

Bill Gates funds energy and climate research

The Microsoft founder Bill Gates is contributing millions of dollars these days to fund academic research in energy and climate, a handful of which touches on geoengineering, or manipulating Earth's natural systems to counteract Climate Change and Global Warming.

The Science Magazine's online blog on Tuesday reported that Gates has put at least $4.5 million of his own money over the last three years into university research.

The advocate for research in geoengineering, Caldeira, serves as an adviser in how the money should be dispensed. Caldeira also works for Intellectual Ventures, an investment and intellectual property licensing company founded by Nathan Myhrvold, the former chief technology officer at Microsoft. Myhrvold and Gates have funded a company called TerraPower, which is trying to develop a breakthrough in nuclear power.

Gates, remained fairly quiet on the topic of energy and climate since leaving Microsoft, but last week he indicated that he is spending a great deal of effort researching energy. He did also tell a reporter that he has invested $20 million in Vinod Khosla's green business fund.

Previously, Gates has shown an interest in what could be called geoengineering, a topic that's really controversial one in academic and policy circles because of the potential dangers. Gates, Myhrvold, Caldeira, and others applied for an "environment alteration" patent in 2008 for calming the effects of hurricanes by using vessels to pump warm water from the surface down to colder areas.

Some of the ideas proposed for geoengineering include shooting sulfur-based particles into the high atmosphere to block incoming radiation from the sun, or dumping the iron into the ocean to stimulate algae growth and sequester carbon dioxide. Some scientists advocate pursuing research in this area in case efforts to cut greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are ineffective.

In a recent comment to the Science article, Caldeira said that Gates' money was aimed broadly at climate and energy research, but not specifically at geoengineering.

Caldeira wrote "The funds that I receive through this avenue primarily are helping to support several post-docs in my group doing a wide variety of work, some of which is related to intentional intervention in the climate system, but much of which is related to broader climate and energy concerns".

Some of the high funded research included an assessment of high-altitude wind power and ocean acidification.

In an interview last week, Gates said that scientists and entrepreneurs should be pursuing technologies that achieve cheap energy with "zero carbon" emissions.

Gates representative John Pinette told Science that he "views geoengineering as a way to buy time but it's not a solution to the problem" of climate change.

Source: news.cnet.com

Honda's free gift (free energy) to fuel cell vehicle

Honda, the auto major, has developed and has put into operation it's new solar hydrogen station at its Los Angeles research center to refill the Honda FCX fuel cell vehicle.

This new station delivers a trickle of hydrogen, which is designed to put half a kilogram into the FCX's tank over an eight hour period, enough, according to Honda, for most drivers' daily commutes. The FCX has a total hydrogen capacity of about 4 kilograms and a range of 240 miles. So on an average a half kilogram will run it for 30 miles.

Honda did develop the prototypes of this station previously, but most of them were inefficient because of the need for a compressor to pressurize the hydrogen. This new hydrogen station combines compressor and the electrolyzer in what Honda calls a "high differential pressure electrolyzer."

While the station can use electricity from its 6-kilowatt solar panel array to power the electrolyzer and generate hydrogen, Honda envisions most people hooking the FCX up to the hydrogen station overnight and using nonpeak capacity electricity from the grid. The solar panels would send electricity back into the grid during the day, when the FCX owner is at work.

Given the slow fill rate of the hydrogen from this station, public hydrogen stations, which can fill the tanks in 5 minutes, would still be needed.

Source: news.cnet.com