It will take decades to completely leave fossil fuels, writes Richard Heinberg. But we can do it, starting with the easy stuff: going big time for wind and solar, raising energy efficiency, replacing oil-fuelled vehicles, and moving to organic farming. But deeper changes will follow as we transition to a more enduring sustainability - consuming better, and much less.
… The transition to 100% renewable energy: because we have no choice … Heinberg | 18th March 2016 News Energy Renewables Fossil Fuels Farming Organic … better, and much less. If our transition to renewable energy is successful, we will …
European politicians are enthralled to the biofuels lobby - they are living a fantasy and it’s time to wake up to the reality of an industry driving deforestation, land grabbing and poverty, says MOLLY SCOTT CATO MEP
… the mythical Emerald City when it comes to renewables, stubbornly clinging to the idea … of evidence has directly linked the 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) with land use … is needed to meet the EU’s biofuel demands. Renewables policy in the EU has massive global …
The European Food Safety Authority is about to decide on a re-authorisation of glyphosate, a 'probable carcinogen', based on unpublished industry studies. In this Open Letter to the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, campaigners call on him to ensure an open, scientifically robust process - and to immediately restrict the herbicide.
Glyphosate - EFSA must make a full and open scientific assessment Jorgo Riss K. Jensen F. Veillerette | 6th November 2015 Comment EU Toxics Health Regulation Farming Food glyposate-spray-cut.jpg The …
Major funders of the pro-fossil fuel Global Warming Policy Foundation are always keen to speak out against public support for renewable energy, writes Brendan Montague. So how come they're so keen to help themselves to a fortune in farm subsidies?
… DeSmog.uk | 10th August 2013 Comment Energy Renewables Wind Economics Farming UK … keen to speak out against public support for renewable energy, writes Brendan Montague. So … cuts to small scale solar power. But while renewable energy subsidies remain in the …
Amazon threat from soybean expansion delayed for a year - but 8 million hectares of unprotected forest at risk from 2015 pending new measures.
Brazil extends Amazon protection from soy farms The Ecologist | 3rd January 2014 News Amazon Brazil Food Farming Forests soy-rondonia.png Amazon threat from soybean expansion delayed for a year - but …
A huge raft of environmental reforms is promised in the Labour Party's draft manifesto, writes Oliver Tickell. Among the highlights: a ban on fracking; a clean energy policy based on renewables and efficiency; no commitment to new nuclear power; to meet our Paris Agreement obligations on climate; to give companies a legal obligation to protect the environment; to retain all EU environment laws post-Brexit; and multilateral nuclear disarmament.
… on fracking; a clean energy policy based on renewables and efficiency; no commitment to … that 60% of the UK's energy comes from low or renewable sources by 2030. ... Labour's energy … energy back into public ownership to deliver renewable energy, affordability for consumers, …
Two critical markets are pursuing a stressed planet’s renewable resources, presenting policymakers with complex and difficult choices. The Worldwatch Institute’s latest look at Earth’s “vital signs” sees dangerous times ahead as the “sustainability crisis” unfolds. China Dialogue's Maryann Bird investigates
… markets are pursuing a stressed planet’s renewable resources, presenting policymakers … Flavin, “greatly increasing pressure on the renewable resources that nourish the economy. … 1,350 megawatts in 2006, thanks to a new renewable energy law, more than doubling its …
The Government has let down Britain with its repeated failures to seize the opportunities of green growth, healthy local food, better housing, environmental protection - and is instead pinning all its hopes on flawed, outmoded ideologies that betray our futures.
… develop technologies and build businesses in renewable energy and energy generation - … to have to fill fast. Instead of giving the renewables sector the long term policy … for percentage of energy generated from renewables. Well - at least we're ahead of …
Britain's soils are in a bad way, writes John Quinton, and the government is doing little to help - indeed its policies are making the problems worse. So concludes yesterday's Environment Audit Committee report on soil health. But are ministers bothered?
… Change Pollution Politics England UK Energy Renewables wp_20160405_12_36_26_raw-cut.jpg … for anaerobic digestion to generate 'renewable' electricity, attracting both … increase in land used for maize production. "Renewable energy subsidies for anaerobic …
President Donald Trump stunned the world yesterday (June 1, 2017) by announcing his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord - a landmark global agreement to lower greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the harm from climate change. The Conversation has assembled a panel of American academics and scientists to analyse what this dramatic move means for the planet, U.S. businesses and the world's poor...
… News Trump Paris Agreement Climate Change Renewables Farming Ethics us flag.jpg … in positive directions, such as more use of renewable energy, but not yet fast enough: Ask … to the way China and Europe are investing in renewable energy . For the last 100 years, …
Rural Nepalese villages implement innovative green measures to safeguard their future, reports ROBYN WILSON
… Robyn Wilson | 14th November 2017 News Nepal Renewable Energy Annapurna Trekking Recycling … Programme in Nepal is now well in to its Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihood project, … was set up to provide electricity through renewable energy schemes to the 30 per cent of …
Rainforests around the world and the wildlife they sustain have a rosier future after the European Parliament voted to limit the growth of biofuels such as palm oil in the transport sector.
… 'food based' biofuels after 2020, and future renewable energy targets for transport. With … from 2008-2009 when two EU directives - on Renewable Energy (RED) and Fuel Quality (FQD) … 10% of transport energy to be derived from renewable energy by 2020. Ironically, the laws …
MPs endorse new report and slam ‘ostrich view’ of farming
… Sustainability Farming IAASTD Faitrade Renewable Energy Organics Climate Change … more fair trade and a ‘major switch’ to renewable energy generation. His words were …
Campaigners against GM foods have long reviled 'terminator technology' - GM plants whose seeds are engineered never to grow. But are fears of the so-called 'suicide seeds' misplaced?
Terminator technology - what's the fuss about? Mark Lynas Lúcia de Souza | 27th November 2013 Comment Gm Gm Food GMOs Food Farming Health terminator-technology.png Campaigners against GM foods have …
Poland is the front line for Europe's small scale family farming, writes Julian Rose, under assault from the EU regulations, corporate agribusiness, and a hostile government. A popular campaign is fighting back from its base deep in the Polish countryside, a small organic farm that's developing new green technologies to enhance the sustainability of small farms everywhere.
… June 2015 Ethical Living Poland Food Farming Renewables Education obraz-062.jpg Poland is … Centre and a leading Polish exponent of solar renewable energies; and Joanna Bojczewska and …
A new study shows that 99.6% of Germans are contaminated with the herbicide glyphosate, writes Nicole Sagener. The news comes as the EU puts off a crucial decision on whether to re-authorise the chemical, described by IARC as 'probably carcinogenic', until 2031.
Almost all Germans contaminated with glyphosate Nicole Sagener EurActiv.de | 8th March 2016 News EU Toxics Regulation Farming Corporations Pesticides germans-cut.jpg A new study shows that 99.6% of …
India's decision to release GMO cotton seeds that incorporate genes for Bt toxins into indigenous 'desi' varieties threatens disaster for the country's small and organic cotton farmers, writes Vandana Shiva. The danger is that the GMO characteristics will spread rapidly into the gene pool, contaminating India's unique heritage of cotton seed diversity.
… duty to ensure a supply of safe, reliable, renewable seed for our farmers. A stealth … farmer. 'Straight' is a word used to describe renewable varieties which are selections from …
The 'cancer industry', including charities with close links to chemicals corporations, is always keen to blame cancer victims for their morally deficient lifestyles, writes Colin Todhunter. But the real fault lies with the commercial interests touting bad food, nutritionally unbalanced and laced with toxic agrochemicals - like the ubiquitous glyphosate - and their residues.
We are being silently poisoned: the case against glyphosate Colin Todhunter | 14th April 2016 Comment Heath Food Farming Corporations Regulation Pesticides Toxics EU USA burger-cut.jpg The 'cancer …
Nebraska has become ground zero for the fight against Keystone XL, and Art Tanderup - farmer and retired schoolteacher - has become a leading voice in the struggle. He spoke to Kate Aronoff about the divisive impact of the pipeline on the local community, threats to the Ogallala Aquifer, and the urgent need to shift to clean, renewable energy sources.
… and the urgent need to shift to clean, renewable energy sources. Art Tanderup is a … bad. We need to somehow encourage the use of renewable fuels, solar, wind and resources …
Monsanto is stepping up its attack on the WHO's classification of glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, writes Peter Saunders. Dismissing the finding as 'junk science' the company is convening its own industry friendly panel and pushing its secret studies at regulators. Don't let them get away with it!
Don't let Monsanto deny glyphosate carcinogenicity! Professor Peter Saunders | 5th August 2015 Comment Health Toxics Regulation Corporation Food Farming osr-glyphosate-cut.jpg Monsanto is stepping up …
The idea that GMO cotton offers hope to Africa's impoverished cotton farmers is facile and fraudulent, writes Arya Tajdin. In fact it only adds to their vulnerability. Their real problems lie in the structural oversupply of subsidized cotton on world markets, and the flood of 'kifua' - dead white man's clothing - that undermines the continent's textile industries.
… the region of Vidharbha, India. "GMOs are non-renewable, while the open pollinated varieties that farmers have bred are renewable and can be saved year to year. The …
A new wave of ‘next generation' GM crops resistant to multiple herbicides, may be approved for import into the European Union, writes Helen Wallace, even though the health impact of the herbicide combinations is unknown. Regulators and retailers must refuse to authorise these GMOs or allow their use in any part of the food chain.
Regulators and retailers must stop ‘next generation' GMO imports Helen Wallace | 20th November 2015 Comment GMOs Farming Food Toxics Health Regulation EU palmers-amaranth-cut.jpg A new wave of ‘next …
The world is facing the imminent threat of severe climate disruption from the warming Arctic, write Robert & Jack Hunziker, leading to a global crisis. But the response of the powerful is only to increase fossil fuel exploitation - and damn the consequences.
… to set policies to convert fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. As such, the US … have led the entire world to conversion to renewable sources of energy. As things stand, … Scotland's energy sources are already 40% renewables and will be 100% by 2020. Food …
Paris has been awash with hype about 'CO2 recycling' and 'carbon neutral' or even 'carbon negative' technologies based on burning millions of trees, writes Rachel Smolker. But the alchemical notion that waste carbon can be spun into corporate gold is hitting serious reality checks. It's time to ditch the fantasies and progress the real solutions: like caring for land, soils, forests and grasslands.
… to claim that burning wood for electricity is renewable and 'carbon neutral'. Hence they … for. Those real solutions will not generate 'renewable energy' or marketable products and … News . The real solutions will not generate 'renewable energy' or marketable products. They …