Go Beyond Earth Hour to Commit to Something Bigger

Greg Bourne, the man responsible for starting Earth Hour in 2007 in Australia, has seen it grow into a global phenomenon. This year on 27 March, 100 iconic landmarks in 1000 cities and towns around the world will switch off their lights, joining hundreds of millions of people showing their
commitment to the environment. Greg would like people to go beyond turning off lights and make a resolution to start something bigger. Read More

Greg Bourne, WWF-Australia CEO:

“Since the first Earth Hour in 2007, millions of Australians have taken part in this incredible event, and for good reason – it is a great way to show that you care about the planet,” said Greg Bourne.

“WWF is thrilled that Earth Hour continues to grow. Personally, I am very proud that this little event has become a global phenomenon, and this year we’re hoping that communities large and small will join us on March 27, and make a strong statement that they are both concerned about the state of our environment and committed to taking action.

“WWF knows that Earth Hour must continue to grow. This year, we’re asking people to go beyond turning off lights and make an Earth Hour resolution to start something bigger,” said Mr Bourne.

“Switching off your lights is a great first step, but your true environmental impact is much bigger than just your energy bill. Each individual’s environmental impact – or environmental footprint – is made up of things such as the food you eat, the transport and housing you choose, and the goods and services you buy.”

With just over two weeks to go before the people of the planet switch off for Earth Hour, the number of countries and regions participating in the global event has surpassed last year’s record.

People in cities and towns across Australia will join those in 91 other countries and regions around the world for Earth Hour, with Honduras the latest nation to have official Earth Hour recognition. Last year 88 countries got involved in the lights out event.

With confirmation that the Tokyo Tower in Tokyo and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin will both turn off their lights for Earth Hour, all members of the G20 are now taking part in the event.

Countries and regions involved for the first time include Madagascar, Kosovo, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Paraguay, Ecuador and the US Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

WWF is thrilled that more people, businesses and organisations around the world are recognising the need and taking a lead on the issue of climate change.

Greg Bourne,CEO, WWF-Australia said, “Earth Hour demonstrates the determination of
the world’s citizens and brings together cities, communities, businesses and individuals in taking positive action on climate change.”

WWF has confirmed that there are currently over 1,100 cities and towns signed up to switch their lights off at 8.30pm on 27 March – 100 more than at the same time last year.

“Typically we see a big jump in the number of cities and towns taking part in the last few
days before the lights go out, but to see such strong support already is fantastic,” said Bourne.

“Earth Hour is an opportunity for people around the world to speak in one voice on the issue of climate change, while at the same time coming together in celebration of the one thing every single person on the planet has in common – the planet,” he said.

At 8.30pm on Saturday, March 27 nearly 100 iconic landmarks in 1,000 cities and towns around the world will switch off their lights for Earth Hour 2010, joining hundreds of millions of people showing their commitment to the environment.

Earth Hour will reach new heights this year, with the world’s three tallest buildings – the new Burj Khalifa in Dubai, CN Tower in Toronto and Taipei 101 in Taiwan – going dark for the global event.

Melbourne’s Luna Park, Rialto Tower, Arts Centre and Crown Casino; Brisbane’s Story Bridge; Adelaide’s Town Hall and Rundle Mall Lantern; The National Library and Australian War Memorial in Canberra and the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Tower, Harbour Bridge and Luna Park will join this growing list.

World-famous sites across the US, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, Mount
Rushmore and even the lights of Las Vegas, will switch off in a decisive display of climate action from one of the most significant nations on the climate landscape.

Some of the world’s great metropolises will ‘flick the switch’ on their signature landmarks, marking their dedication to sustainable development and joining their citizens in adopting low-carbon practices.

Hiroshima will become the first Japanese city to show its commitment to global climate action when the lights go out on its iconic Peace Memorial. In London, lights will dim on the world-famous London Eye as the Coca-Cola sign in Piccadilly Circus switches off.

The actions shown by cities of the world and their inhabitants are crucial to leading a low-carbon resolution to climate change, says Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley.

“The C40 suggests that cities are responsible for up to 75% of the world’s carbon emissions, so their role in addressing what is unequivocally the greatest threat to the planet today is absolutely vital,” Andy said.

“By turning the lights off for Earth Hour, cities are reflecting the aspirations of their citizens as a community that has resolved to take action on global warming,” he said.

As Earth Hour has grown from a one-city initiative in 2007 to a global phenomenon in 2009, renowned
icons, including the Great Pyramids, Eiffel Tower, the Coliseum, Christ the Redeemer statue, Buckingham Palace, Beijing’s Olympic Stadium and many more world-famous landmarks have joined the global community in showing leadership on a resolution to climate change.

The recently released Earth Hour 2010 video provides a powerful and inspiring montage of the world’s most recognised landmarks contributing to the greatest display of civil action the world has ever witnessed.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with
almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s
mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which
humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the
use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and
wasteful consumption.

About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and
communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 27, 2010 at 8:30
PM to show their support for action on climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when
2 million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe
participated. In 2009, Earth Hour reached 1 billion people in 4,088 cities and towns in 88
countries making it the largest public demonstration for action on climate change ever.

Source: www.earthhour.org.au

New Media Message: Global Warming For All Minds Young and Old

Independent newsletters and publications, like abc carbon express, are so crucial because they fill the vacuum left by the established media. These critical sources of information reach millions of individuals across the globe, reminding everyone about the simple truth that global warming and climate change have not gone away. This from rural Hampshire, England, where Flemming Bermann, runs Carbon-info.org – Europe’s largest global warming and climate change website – and is about to publish the book “Global warming for young minds”. Read More

By Flemming Bermann

Reaching the 100th issue of ABC Carbon Express is quite a milestone, and an important one too for many reasons.

At the end of 2008, news reports about the world financial crises started to increase in frequency, and the journalistic language spelled doom at every opportunity. The constant, daily flow of news reports reminding the Government and public about global warming and climate change, and which we here in the UK had grown familiar with during the previous 18 months, ceased to exist almost overnight.

The media had found its new scare story. A financial crisis simply sells more papers because it affects everyone here and now and because it is far simpler concept to explain to the public. “Your job is in danger” is far more headline grabbing than “Sea levels could rise by 75 cm by 2100″.

In fact, one could suggest that the media in recent months has found more success reporting perceived failures of the scientific community. The new low in climate reporting came last year just before COP15, when the media were more interested in making a major story out selective bits of information contained in a few emails, which had been obtained illegally than focusing on the conference itself.

This is in my opinion why the 100th issue (of abc carbon express) is such an important milestone. The continuing work done by countless individuals working for NGOs or non-profit organisations across the world has never been more important.

Independent newsletters and publications are so crucial because they fill the vacuum left by the established media. Each week these critical sources of information reach millions of individuals across the globe, reminding everyone about the simple truth that global warming and climate change have not gone away.

The truth is, however, that dealing with global warming, in particular if we as a species continue to delay an effectively solution to the problem of rising CO2 emissions, will inevitably involve some sacrifice on everyone’s part. And let’s be honest personal sacrifice has never been particular high on anyone’s list.

The average adult is locked into a short-term system of work and wealth creation, which often leaves little time for more long-term, global problems. However, the one area where modern day adults do feel a great responsibility is towards their family and in particular their children.

I have spoken to many mums and dads, who clearly are very concerned about what kind of world their offspring will inherit. I am convinced that many a parent has been motivated to do-their-bit because it indirectly would benefit their children or simply to avoid the difficult question: “Why did you not do more to help protect the planet?”.

Here at Carbon-info.org we firmly believe that the success of how well we are able to deal with global warming depends on how well we educate our children about this significant threat and involve them from an early age.

Unfortunately the UK Government only believes that children needs to receive what amounts to about two lessons of 45 minutes per year on the subject – though I know many teachers, who do much more because they understand how important a topic it is. Unfortunately a typical example of how the UK Government is failing in its educational duties. And yet another example of how individuals, in this case the parents, needs to take the matter into their own hands and provide the information their children would otherwise be excluded from.

The teaching of young children will soon become a lot easier. Carbon-info.org is publishing a children’s book “Global warming for young minds”, which is aimed at parents, who are looking to teach their children about global warming, climate change and sustainable living. The book will be available towards the middle of 2010 and be aimed at children from six to 10+ years old.

Flemming Bermann – Director

Founded in December 2004 by Flemming Bermann and a group of enthusiastic volunteers (The management committee), Carbon-info.org remain an independent, non-government, non-profit environment organisation.

Located in rural Hampshire, England, Carbon-info.org’s values and social objectives remain the same as in December 2004:

“To educate and raise public awareness about global warming, climate change and sustainable living.”

The management committee provide all their time and services to the organisation at no cost.
Income is generated through Carbon-info.org’s website as well as providing ‘green’ consultancy to small and medium sized business.
All profit is reinvested into the organisation to help it achieve its social objectives.

Source: www.Carbon-info.org

Cleaning Up Olympic-Sized Challenges On Track For Envirofriendly

With the solution to liquid waste management issues, Envirofriendly has clients throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and currently has trial projects running in Singapore, Hong Kong, the United States and Brazil. One of the trials involves investigating the clean-up of a major water feature that will be used for the Olympics and World Cup to be held in Brazil. Neil Christie (pictured) is the developer of the Envirofriendly process and owner of the business. Read More

Envirofriendly was one of 40 organisations participating in Queensland’s first Sustainability Showcase for the Minister of Climate Change and Sustainability Kate Jones at Parliament House, Brisbane last week. Don Norton, consultant to Envirofriendly, contributed this article:

Business owners in South East Queensland with grease traps that feed into the council sewer systems should be aware that between now and 2013 all councils will be moving towards charging businesses according to the strength of the effluent that flows into the sewer.

Those businesses with high effluent levels will find their council charges increasing while those that take steps to reduce and manage their effluent discharge levels will benefit.

For those businesses wishing to save money and manage their effluent problems there is a solution to the issue, which is approved for use by the Brisbane City Council and other councils in South east Queensland.

Neil Christie started Envirofriendly more than 15 years ago. The Brisbane based company provides an effective microbial waste management solution.

“It is proven to reduce effluent discharge, reduce grease trap evacuations by more than 50% and is already saving businesses substantial amounts of money”, says Mr Christie, Managing Director of Envirofriendly and business owner, who developed the process using microbes.

Retail clients use the company’s product Drainsolv in commercial kitchens in restaurants and food courts, shopping centres, hotels convention centres and even hospitals. It is proven to eliminate unpleasant odours, extend grease trap evacuations to once every 12 weeks – or in some cases even more – rather than every three of four weeks, reduce blockages and reduce effluent discharge into council systems.

The company services one Brisbane commercial building where Drainsolv is applied to four 2300 litre grease traps that service five restaurants in the complex, giving an annual cost saving of more than $14 000.

In the Redlands Shire near Brisbane two shopping centres that use Drainsolv are gaining substantial cost savings by evacuating grease traps every 12 weeks, while the remaining centres in the area evacuate every four weeks.

Apart from Drainsolv, Envirofriendly has a product range of five other key products designed to deal with a broad range of liquid management issues.

“All Envirofriendly products contain 14 different types of microbes that have been specifically developed to break down various types of waste,” says Mr Christie. “All the microbes are naturally occurring, are non-toxic and will not harm humans or animals”.

He explains that all products are produced in liquid form in a ready-to-use state and are simply applied during the daily cleaning process. Where this is not suitable Envirofriendly can provide dosing machines to ensure regular and controlled amounts are introduced into waste systems.

The product L200 eliminates smells and improves effective operation of sewage treatment plants. It can also be used to eliminate odours and speed up the breakdown of waste in large commercial waste dumps. A trial in the main dump in Shanghai produced substantial results with both liquid and solid waste in 48 hours, many days quicker than 23 other international products trialed at the same time.

UrinalKleen ensures effective operation of both waterless and flushing urinals in men’s toilets. In one case in a 40 level commercial building in Brisbane use of the product has reduced flushing cycles from once every two minutes in a ten hour day to just two janitorial flushes per day, saving many hundreds of thousand of litres of water per year. It is estimated that the water saving cost in this building alone is more than $48 000 per year.

The product is being used in a number of toilets in shopping centres and is being introduced to further multi story buildings to reduce odours, clear blocked pipe work and ensure efficient operation of the toilets.

FriendlyKleen breaks down dangerous and slippery grease and waste on tiled kitchen and bathroom floors and will also break down mould.

KontainerKleen will eliminate waste build up and odours in large industrial waste bins and skips and can be used just as effectively in “wheely bins”.

Envirofriendly also has a product, Aquabac, that can be used in water features, prawn and fish farms that will control the build up of algae and other damaging bacteria in the water thus promoting healthier fish and marine life.

Today Envirofriendly has more than 500 satisfied commercial clients and more than 4000 retail clients using various microbial products in a wide range of uses. The clients include shopping centres, commercial office buildings, convention centres, hospitals, fast food outlets, hotels, holiday resorts, government departments and local councils.

If your business has a liquid waste management issue or is paying too much in council effluent charges, visit the Envirofriendly website or call on 1800 626 334.

Source: www.envirofriendly.com.au

A 24 Hour Ride for Sustainability

This might sound like a day-in-the-life-of sort of story, and it is, because it covers a sustainably significant 24 hours (from 12noon on Thursday 11 March until just after brunch the following day).

It involved spending time in Parliament House with a selection of the most sustainable, innovative and enterprising people in Queensland.

It included announcing the launch of a new business advisory service – Carinya Corporate & Commercialisation – to enable Small to Medium-sized Enterprises capitalise on market opportunities in the Sustainability Sector. More on Carinya in future issues, as this new venture involves ABC Carbon, along with three other experienced professionals, Simon Stodart, David Hunt and Jeremy Martineau.

It extended to talking and listening to some of the same and more over a wine or two in a couple of Brisbane bars. Always entertaining and inspiring hearing from Philip Surch of eNerwise about the Ultra energy saving device he’s distributing around Australia.

The Business Eco Forum featured Don Norton of Envirofriendly, who gave added insight into the origins and activities of the microbe waste management process, while Phil Little presented a comprehensive survey of his sustainable housing innovations and the proposed solar decathlon.

And to top it off, there was a barbecue brunch on a windy South Bank whipped up by celebrity chef Ben O’Donoghue (of “Surfing the Menu” and “The Best” fame), sharing the occasion with Minister Kate Jones to mark the launch of WWF’s 2010 Earth Hour.

The Sustainability Showcase was all about giving Queensland’s Minister of Climate Change and Sustainability some renewed insight into what’s going on the smart state with enterprising businesses engaged in renewable energy, biofuels, energy efficiency, waste and water management.

Not only did Minister Jones welcome the opportunity to meet and hear of the challenges and the opportunities for the Sustainability Sector players, but all the participants, including those Eco Biz partners present, gained from the chance to engage in business-to-business talk which many know will lead to action.

As Nigel Grier, the principal of Zingspace (Townsville), put it the next day:

“The networking opportunity has provided us with some great new connections and potential relationships and the bringing together of so many catalytic thinkers was a great experience! Looking forward to being on board the ABC Carbon Road Train in 2010 and beyond!”

Here is a full list of the 40 organisations, in addition to ABC Carbon, which included businesses, not for profits and industry groups, participating in the Sustainability Challenge:

All Safe, Australian Green Infrastructure Council, Biofuels Association of Australia, Calthorpe Consulting, Carinya Corporate & Commercialisation, Climate First, Dynamic Eco Solutions, EC3 Global, Ecokinetics, Eco System Homes, Ecospecifier, Enerwise, Envirofriendly, EXlites, Fumunda Marine, Funnel, FWR Group, Green Roofs Australia, Ingenero, IQ Agribusines, My Clean Sky/SEA 02, NAC Consulting, Natures Paper, Norton Associates, OFB Corporation, Phil Little Sustainable Design Foundation, Prime Carbon, RBL Management Consulting, Soil Carbon, Start Innovation Centre, Strategic Directions, SuperGreenMe, Sustain Asia, Sustainability Challenge, Sustainable Jamboree, Sustainable Insight, VRM Biologic, Waterwise International, Wind Power Queensland and Zingspace.

For the WWF and Earth Hour brunch, it was good to not only sample some of Ben’s very appetising food, but also hear of his pledge to recycle all of the bio-waste generated at his new restaurant, The Surf Club, when it opens at South Bank in May.

Minister Kate Jones used the occasion to stress that simple lifestyle changes could make a huge difference to reducing each household’s carbon emissions.

“I’ve already pledged to reduce my carbon footprint through a number of easy practical steps and there are a number of government programs to help Queenslanders do the same,” she said.

Understandably, there was considerable work involved behind the scenes (by us and others) to make this period of sustainable events such a productive and satisfying 24 hours. The pleasure of dealing with such enterprising people with their hearts and their energies in the greenest of places was only matched by the enthusiasm generated for the business and friendship opportunities expected to be forthcoming in the near future.

Source: www.abccarbon.com