The environmental industry must tell their story in language that the public can embrace

See Environment Minister Dan Norris: http://www.copenhagenclimatetalks.info/news/news_story.asp?id=17403&channel=0&title=Too+much+technical+talk+will+fail+to+engage+public+-+Minister

Global warming - What fun the press have

CLIMATE CHANGE IS NATURAL: 100 REASONS WHY
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/146138

Sustainable Energy — Without the hot air

An excellent, straightforward body of work from Prof. David Mackay. "The public debate about our energy crisis will be a waste of time - unless we start using numbers we all understand".
Get the book free at: http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/sustainable/book/tex/cft.pdf

Free personal carbon footprint

Market leaders Best Foot Forward have created free Standard and 10:10 versions of footprinter - the enterprise carbon accounting solution. Using footprinter you can take the first step to reducing your carbon risk. click on: http://www.footprinter.com/toolkit/editions

Home enviro. tips - India

Workshop report at:
http://www.esgindia.org/Educational%20Programs/comm_outreach/EnvJustHomes_WorkshopReport_07Nov09.html

We cannot change the world by changing our buying habits

Challenging blog from George Monbiot
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2009/nov/06/green-consumerism

Sustainable Schools Resource

http://www.edie.net/ms/sustainable_schools/

Beliefs on climate like religion, court rules

A United Kingdom court has ruled that a man can take his employer to court on the grounds that he was discriminated against because of his views on climate change.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/04/2732928.htm

New Climate Change Map

Shows the global consequences of a 4 degree rise
http://www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk/en/ambition/evidence/4-degrees-map/

Tricking and Treating the Future

Interesting article in The Oil Drum...
http://campfire.theoildrum.com/node/5924

Face the Music

Created by BAFTA award-winning animator Ian Gouldstone, Face the Music shows how poor people are being hit first and worst by the effects of climate change, even though they've contributed least to it.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/climate_change/face_the_music_animation.html

ENERGY SAVING WEEK

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Easy-ways-to-stop-wasting-energy/Support-our-campaigns/Energy-Saving-Week

Nature special on planetary boundaries

Special edition of ‘Nature Reports Climate Change’ on of ‘planetary boundaries’ (including climate change) and how mankind must work within these to avoid catastrophic environmental change. Visit
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html

How to reduce your carbon emissions by 10%

Useful site with tips and ideas
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/01/how-to-reduce-emissions-10-10

PowerPoint Antidote!

Click Here

Ecofont - Save 20% Ink for Free

The prints we make for our 'daily use' not only use paper, but also ink. But your ink cartridges (or toner) could last longer. We have therefore developed a new font: the Ecofont."After Dutch holey cheese, there now is a Dutch font with holes as well." Appealing ideas are often simple: how much of a letter can be removed while maintaining readability? After extensive testing with all kinds of shapes, the best results were achieved using small circles. After lots of late hours (and coffee) this resulted in a font that uses up to 20% less ink. Free to download, free to use. There is also a print solution for business environments: Ecofont Professional.

Carbon Zero Homes

One of the UK's leading housebuilders, Miller Homes, claims to have built a zero carbon house as part of the effort to combat climate change.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8243810.stm

Improving IT cuts power costs

On average companies can cut their power use and reduce costs by about 17% if they make sure their IT is up to date, according to a new report. The report Energy Efficient IT, issued by the CDW Corporation, for the second year running surveyed 752 IT professionals in business, government and education. The survey found organisations are doing more to improve energy efficiency in IT compared to 2008, and as a result, are finding 'significant savings' in their energy bills. http://newsroom.cdw.com/features/feature-08-31-09.html

Sustainable?

Nottingham schools 'biggest ever' carbon emissions cut

Two Nottingham schools have achieved the biggest ever carbon emissions cuts through renewable integration ever, according to the firm carrying out improvements on campus. The schools' carbon footprint exceeds the standards currently set by government for low carbon schools.
http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=16979&channel=2&title=Nottingham+schools+

Warming ocean releasing more methane

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17625-as-arctic-ocean-warms-megatonnes-of-methane-bubble-up.html

Green Car Congress - Resources

http://www.greencarcongress.com/

Purchasing online resource

Companies wanting to reduce the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions can now tap into a new online resource.

http://www.greenprocurementcode.co.uk/

Debunking the myths surrounding sustainability

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0507/1224246059004.html

Green Collar Jobs

The US Conference of Mayors estimates growth of 4.2 million new "green collar" jobs in the nation over the next 30 years.

Sustainability Success Stories

http://www.forumforthefuture.org/blog/sustainability-success-stories

Is Sustainability Unsustainable?

The Nag - Thoughts - Is sustainability unsustainable?

Posted using ShareThis

Green for All

Green For All is a US national organization working to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.

http://www.greenforall.org/

Porritt's Pop

Sir JP fires parting shots across UK Government bow
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8169716.stm

Kiss Frogs?

Once upon a time in a land far away, a beautiful, independent, sustainability-minded princess happened upon a frog as she sat contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a protected meadow near her castle.
The frog hopped into the princess’ lap and said: “Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me. One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry and set up housekeeping in your castle with my mother. There you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy doing so.”
That night, as the princess dined sumptuously on lightly sauteed frog legs seasoned in a white wine and organic onion cream sauce, she chuckled and thought to herself: “Yeah, right!”

The Sustainability Shaper

Good resource with not just SW stuff
http://www.shapersw.org.uk/index.php?stylesheet=style2

Climate projections suggest dramatic shifts by end of the century

Parts of Britain could see average temperatures rise by almost 4°C in the next 70 years, with major reductions in summer rain and increased winter precipitation. All of these would have a severe impact on people's health and quality of life, the economy and the natural environment. Figures published by the Met Office, and presented by senior Ministers on Thursday, highlighted the severity of climate change the UK is likely to face.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/publications/brochures/COP6.pdf

Nag me please

9 Environmental Icons?

http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2009/04/9-environmental-icons-walking-green-path-25-years.php?page=1

Unions launch historic environmental initiative

UCU today joined forces with the Communications Workers Union (CWU), the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the National Union of Teachers (NUT), and the Climate Outreach and Information Network to launch the 'Climate Solidarity' project.
The project will train hundreds of activists on how to encourage their co-workers and employers to reduce their carbon footprint. The project aims to set up over a thousand action groups that will provide lessons on how to cut back on electricity and how to better insulate homes and workplaces. There will also be guides on switching to renewable energy and buying more food from local suppliers. UCU head of further education, Barry Lovejoy, said: 'UCU takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and it is really important that all trade unions communicate with their members and the employers on how they can reduce their carbon footprint. The stakes are simply too high to sit idly by and I think it is great that we are looking to establish action groups within the community so that we can get this important message out there.
'We need the next generation of trade union members to place the environment at the heart of their work and I really think this scheme can make that difference.'

Business students take oath to behave ethically

Business graduates from around the world are signing up to a pledge mirroring the Hippocratic Oath taken by medics. Launched for MBA graduates at the Harvard Business School the voluntary oath began with the modest expectation of persuading around 100 of the 900 students from the class of 2009 to sign up. But it has spread virally, with over half of the class taking the oath and hundreds of others from universities around the world also signing up online.
http://mbaoath.org/

Top 10 Myths about Sustainability

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=top-10-myths-about-sustainability

National Recycling Week - Will this make you compost?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBzriA2UANg

Resource efficiency 'key to sustainable business'

See: http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?src=nl&id=16566

Useful Carbon Calculator

http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html

A short video

Mark talks about environmental action at the OU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksy8ANZcpXg

EU adaptation to climate change

The European Union’s recently-unveiled White Paper on adaptation to climate change is available, alongside a host of supporting documentation, at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/index_en.htm.

Free - Green Office Guide

Green Office for Dummies - completely free download

http://www.avery.co.uk/avery/en_gb/Projects-%26-Ideas/Ideas-for-Work/Helpful-hints-on-becoming-environmentally-friendly-in-the-office.htm?Ns

ITC & The Enviro

Useful report from Global Action Plan

http://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/upload/resource/Full-report.pdf

What does a sustainable university look like?

Energy reduction, recycling, food sourcing, reusable cups, staff transport, free bikes... and what's next?

A sustainable campus community acts upon its local and global responsibilities to protect and enhance the health and well being of humans and ecosystems. It actively engages the knowledge of the university community to address the ecological and social challenges that we face now and in the future. Lindsay Cole (2003)

From the Chronicle of HE http://chronicle.com/indepth/sustainable/

Embedding Behaviour Change - Envirowise Tool

Useful training tool with video clips

http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/change/index.html#0

Wind turbine for Somerset school

A Somerset school has installed a wind turbine and taken steps to tackle its energy efficiency in the hopes of inspiring its students to become better stewards of the planet in the future. Chew Valley Comprehensive School wanted to lower its carbon footprint while educating a future generation about the benefits of renewable energy. Rather than opt for subtle-but-effective measures to cut its emissions, the school opted for its own wind turbine to make a visual statement at the same time as providing electricity. Mark Mallett, the headteacher said: "The wind turbine has become both a physical and metaphorical landmark for the school. "Visitors always comment on it. But much more important is what it symbolizes for our young people - that our resources are finite and the environment in jeopardy. "Chew Valley pupils are learning how important it is that we reduce our carbon footprint." The school secured 25% grant funding under the Low Carbon Building Programme - funding available for all public sector buildings looking to reduce their emissions. The school forecasts that the turbine will earn around £400 per year through ROCs which will be ploughed back into further environmental measures.

Emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases fell for the third consecutive year

Emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases fell for the third consecutive year in 2007, according to the European Environment Agency. However, the EEA, which announced the figures last week, also said much of the reduction was down to a combination of warmer weather and more expensive power bills - rather than a move towards greener living. But, as a result the majority of households across the continent showed a drop in emissions, with German homes showing the biggest fall. Overall domestic emissions were 9.3% below 1990 levels, which was a drop of 1.2% or 59m tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared to 2006. Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA executive director, said: "The economic stimulus packages that governments are currently adopting represent a crucial opportunity to address the climate crisis and the financial crisis simultaneously. "A strong Copenhagen agreement later this year would drive forward investments vital to our future prosperity." The report also revealed all 15 EU States, except Spain and Greece, reduced emissions.

New Standard for Sustainable Events

BS8901 is the British Standard for sustainable event management. It offers a framework for all events, from a car boot sale to the Olympics, and allows event managers to track their sustainability and benchmark their progress.

Could we use this ourselves to make the conferences & events we organise more sustainable?

UCU today joined forces with the Communications Workers Union (CWU), the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the National Union of Teachers (NUT), and the Climate Outreach and Information Network to launch the 'Climate Solidarity' project.

The project will train hundreds of activists on how to encourage their co-workers and employers to reduce their carbon footprint. The project aims to set up over a thousand action groups that will provide lessons on how to cut back on electricity and how to better insulate homes and workplaces. There will also be guides on switching to renewable energy and buying more food from local suppliers. UCU head of further education, Barry Lovejoy, said: 'UCU takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and it is really important that all trade unions communicate with their members and the employers on how they can reduce their carbon footprint. The stakes are simply too high to sit idly by and I think it is great that we are looking to establish action groups within the community so that we can get this important message out there. 'We need the next generation of trade union members to place the environment at the heart of their work and I really think this scheme can make that difference.'

Bottled Water - Who Needs It?

http://podcast.open.ac.uk/oulearn/environment-development-and-international-studies/podcast-u116-bottled-water

University (almost) off grid

The University of New Hampshire will be 85% powered by landfill emissions after announcing the completion of its $49m EcoLine. http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?src=nl&id=16471

Awards for Environmental Excellence 2009

Outstanding green schemes have only a month left before the chance to be recognised by the rest of the industry at the Awards for Environmental Excellence 2009. http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?src=nl&id=16484#cmt

Sadly no categories no teaching / research category. Lots of great work going on which we don't highlight nearly enough. Any ideas?

Climate Change - Why do anything?

This is the best argument to do something about global warming I've ever seen & is worth the 9' 33 sec investment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zORv8wwiadQ

Can energy monitoring change our habits?

Useful article at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/apr/19/energy-monitoring-ethical-dilemma

Sustainability Live

Great to meet OU students - present & prospective last week at the NEC. Lots of interest in the OU sustainability & enviro. courses and very focussed questioning from peole who knew exactly what they wanted.