Supermarket to switch 300 lorries to rapeseed fuel

Rapeseed. It makes the countryside a nice yellow hue. And many commentators are claiming it is the answer the world’s fueling problems. Supermarket chain Waitrose certainly thinks so - it is trialling a system that could see its entire lorry fleet powered by the increasingly popular plant.

This from The Times

The supermarket chain is the first to opt for rapeseed oil.

It claims that the process of cold-pressing rapeseed to produce the oil has a carbon footprint 20 per cent lower than producing the equivalent amount of bio-diesel, which is made through a chemical process involving methanol.

Charlie Mayfield, chairman of John Lewis, said: “We are always looking at ways of improving the efficiency of our fleet and this is a win for us. We expect it to succeed and as and when it does we will roll it out.”

Humankind at risk as resources dry up

A UN report says humanity is in serious danger of killing itself if it continues to use the planet’s resources in the same way at the same rate it does now.

The Times has this, but it’s not for the weak-hearted. Actually it’s pretty grim:

The speed at which mankind has used the Earth’s resources over the past 20 years has put “humanity’s very survival” at risk, a study involving 1,400 scientists has concluded.

The environmental audit, for the United Nations, found that each person in the world now requires a third more land to supply his or her needs than the Earth can supply.

The unseen business impacts of climate change

Greenbang just spotted this post highlighting some of the less-known impacts of climate change.

Some are surprising, such as the decline in a dairy cows’ productivity once temperatures rise above 25 degrees Celsius. This could cost California alone up to $900m a year, according to the researchers.

Maple sugar will also take a hit, due to reduced sap flow (pictured), while others, such as a drop in winter sports, have been obvious to anyone trying to ski in Europe over Christmas in the past few years.

Agriculture Cut: New York State’s agricultural yield may be reduced by as much as 40%, resulting in $1.2 billion in annual damages. Water shortages in California’s Central Valley could lead to $6 billion in annual losses during dry years. Agriculture surrounding San Antonio Texas Edwards Aquifer could reach losses of $3.6-6.5 billion by 2030 and $6.75-10.13 billion by 2090.

Ken kicks off London sustainability plan

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has unveiled a new programme that will celebrate the role Londoners can play in creating a more sustainable city.

Yeah it does sound like another PR gig, but Greenbang likes Ken (whose office is pictured) much more than the moron trying to challenge his leadership.

The ‘London Leaders’ programme was launched with the announcement of 15 individuals from all walks of London life who will demonstrate what can be done when people work together to achieve positive change.

At the launch each of the leaders signed a pledge committing themselves to a key sustainability campaign over the coming year.  These include an urban regeneration champion who will be persuading city institutions to adopt ‘living roofs’, a vicar who is expanding a city farm programme and a director of a refugee support unit who wants to forge links between London refugee organisations.

Over the next 12 months the 15 Leaders will undertake a variety of challenges that show ‘sustainability in action’ from grass roots through to the boardroom such as an eco-entertainment entrepreneur who wants to develop the world’s first sustainable entertainment venue in London. The Leaders are drawn from a broad cross-section of London society including the voluntary sector, academia, arts and entertainment, charities, environmentalists, local government, commerce and the clergy.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: “The London Leaders programme is a pioneering scheme which will provide London communities with the leadership and guidance needed to create sustainable environments and attitudes. A sustainable future requires leaders at all levels, from government to local business, to lead by example. By identifying and supporting these London Leaders I am confident they can inspire communities.”

Greenbang tracks the explosion of the environmental industry, reporting on news of green innovation and thought leadership.

We blog on this rather than the environmental problems of the world because we are interested in the answers to climate change.