IN FOCUS --- Metafore's Weekly Newsletter
September 2, 2010, Issue 321 |
Billionaire funding climate change study on trees
From ABC: California's ancient Redwoods have survived floods, fires and the logger's axe, but the impact of global warming is still a big question mark.
What will climate change mean for the sequoias of the Southern Sierra and the Coast redwoods up north?
Banks grow wary of environmental risks
From The New York Times: After years of legal entanglements arising from environmental messes and increased scrutiny of banks that finance the dirtiest industries, several large commercial lenders are taking a stand on industry practices that they regard as risky to their reputations and bottom lines.
From outer space, a new dilemma for old-growth forests
From the Miami Herald: A new study using laser pulses shot from satellites has found that the world's tallest forests are those along the Pacific Northwest coast.
Though the findings shouldn't shock anyone who grew up in the region, they offer another indication of how important these ancient trees eventually could become.
How best to balance economic growth and protection of the environment?
From Mongabay: Development is seen as the answer to poverty. However, many controversial developments have actually increased poverty, and while the investors in such schemes may benefit, the local people pay the price.
Cap-and-trade Is beginning to raise some concerns
From The New York Times: Manufacturing a gas commonly used for cooling and air-conditioning turns out to produce another unwanted gas that can contribute inordinately to the warming of the planet.
Nestle to spend $487M on sustainable coffee supply chain
From Environmental Leader: Nestle will invest CHF 500 million (approximately $487 million) to address responsible farming, sourcing and consumption across its coffee supply chain. Nestle purchases around 780,000 tons of green coffee a year or 10 percent of the world’s supply.
Logging of endangered trees and encroachment is still rampant
From the Bangkok Post: Forest encroachment and illegal logging remain widespread across the country, despite the claims by officials that the arrest of illegal transporters of logs on our highways has fallen in recent years.
Legally certified timber proving a hard sell on price: survey
From The Sydney Morning Herald: More than half (55 per cent) of Australian timber merchants buy certified timber products but only a quarter believe certification brings a better price, the latest URS survey shows.
Russia submits 1st Kyoto CO2 offset project to U.N.
From Reuters: Russia has submitted its first clean energy project to a U.N. climate panel for registration to earn carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations' Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said on Monday.
Friends of the Earth urges end to 'land grab' for biofuels
From the Guardian UK: In a campaign launching today (Monday, Aug. 30th), the charity accuses European companies of land-grabbing throughout Africa to grow biofuel crops that directly compete with food crops. Biofuel companies counter that they consult with local governments, bring investment and jobs, and often produce fuels for the local market.
Tar sands 'fingerprint' seen in rivers and snow
From Science News: A new study refutes a government claim (one echoed by industry) that the gonzo-scale extraction of tar sands in western Canada — and their processing into crude oil — does not substantially pollute the environment.