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Welcome to connect2earth in Renewable energy
Posted on Apr 01 2009 at 01:48PM by moderator
It’s great to see you here... Take a moment to watch this video to see what connect2earth is all about...
We’ve just gone live with a new version of the site so that’s why you may find it a bit empty for a few days. But go ahead, take this opportunity to be one of the first ones to voice your opinion!
If you’ve visited connect2earth before you’ll notice some changes to the site… This new version let’s you interact directly with community members from around the world and experts to discuss specific topics.
We are in the process of bringing in some of the great videos, images and text that were uploaded to the previous version of connect2earth, so bear with us if your contribution is not there yet. It may take a bit of time!
And if you are a member already, your "username" has already been transferred. Just make sure to request a new password before you can log in to this version of the site. As passwords are a very personal thing, we could not transfer them…
Talk to you soon!
Read more on this topic »Spread the word! in Renewable energy
Posted on May 18 2009 at 02:19PM by moderator
Hi Esther... This is not exactly the place to discuss this matter but it is important to mention that we are grateful to have Skandar Keynes support connect2earth and help us get additional visibility for this green online community. Skandar wholeheartedly shares our concern about the environment we all live in, and he generously accepted to endorse connect2earth as soon as he found out about it. We hope you feel the same way, and look forward to receiving your comments with regard to the on-going debate on renewable energy! Many thanks for your participation and continued interest in this community.
Read more on this topic »Well done ChrisP in Species - The extinction crisis
Posted on Jul 06 2009 at 08:14AM by moderator
Your story is indeed inspiring! And I wish you lots of further successes in your work...
And thank you for pointing out the typo, it's all corrected now.
Read more on this topic »Spread the word! in Education and awareness
Posted on Oct 07 2009 at 01:58PM by moderator
Somebody else asked exactly the same question a few months ago and I'll repeat our answer:we are grateful to have Skandar Keynes supportconnect2earth and help us get additional visibility for this green online community. Skandar wholeheartedly shares our concern about the environment we all live in, and he generously accepted to endorse connect2earth as soon as he found out about it. We hope you feel the same way, and look forward to your participation and support!
Read more on this topic »Just express yourself! in Education and awareness
Posted on Oct 08 2009 at 10:19AM by moderator
Thanks for this comment Paul. What is important for all of us is that
people around the world keep on talking about climate change and spread
the word about what is really happening to our planet. It makes more
sense of course to use English as the default language to allow a
maximum number of members to participate, but we will let you use the
language you choose on the site. See you soon in the discussion!
We are currently taking about climate change! in Other
Posted on Nov 19 2009 at 03:19PM by moderator
Please try to stay on subject.. There have been quite a few posts lately on the need to stop wars. It is of course a very important subject, but it is not what we want to talk about on connect2earth.
Please refrain from starting and participating in discussions not related to climate change! Many thanks in advance.
We can still kiss and make up! in Education and awareness
Posted on Nov 24 2009 at 11:18AM by moderator
The upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen is our best chance to reafirm our love for our one and only, cuddly blue marble...
Share this video and get all the breaking news from the conference on cop15.panda.org
NIcolas Paez is the winner of the competition in Politics and policy
Posted on Dec 16 2009 at 04:00PM by moderator
gn.paez145 or Nicolas Paez from Colombia is the winner of the connect2earth Copenhagen competition. It was announced to the international press yesterday at the climate talks in Copenhagen.
Nicolas was invited to Copenhagen by the connect2earth team, and is currently there, taking part in many events and interviews. Take a look at one interview on the right hand column.
He will report to us here on connect2earth about his unique experience.
CONNECT2EARTH reply: This was well said education is ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 27 2010 at 10:42AM by moderator
Radiance, I couldn’t agree more. A big part of the problem, even in developed countries, revolves around education and awareness. And we’re not talking about the numbers of PhDs here, we’re talking about understanding the true impacts of our lifestyles, understanding how we can better live in harmony with our planet, how we can make a difference by making choices that enhance sustainability of resource use, rather than the opposite. Literacy and the formal education system has an obvious role to play in this, as do informal learning channels – such as the internet, and we as individuals - through the passage of information either by word-of-mouth, or role-modelling.
Not everyone has access to the internet and thus can’t tap-into some of the incredibly useful information that is out there – such as on WWF’s own website at: http://www.panda.org/how_you_can_help/greenliving/ - and thus there is an important responsibility for governments, international aid agencies, non government organizations, community groups, and indeed anyone with the capacity to make a change in the developing world to make sure the options they are promoting or raising awareness are going to have a positive impact on the planet and the lives of the people who depend upon it. There’s a recognized action continuum that demonstrates you’ll rarely get behavioural change without awareness (education) and understanding.
Read more on this topic »Reply to: Environment Tax in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Jan 30 2010 at 08:30PM by moderator
A great idea Alex, and one that I’ve also thought much about in the past – something like a national environmental levy that everyone pays to cover the costs of protecting, managing and restoring the environment. Of course it can be argued that taxpayers like us already pay an environmental tax, as a certain proportion of our taxes will go the environmental, sustainability, conservation agencies and the like to fund their programmes and projects. What is missing is a clear demarcation of the proportion of our taxes that goes towards these public programmes. If it was made clear that a certain percentage of your taxes was for the protection of the planet, then we’d have better public awareness and interest in its expenditure, greater scrutiny and accountability for the use of the funds, and a better understanding of the adequacy or inadequacy of the allocated percentage. I also like the idea of a tax differential, which is being trialled by some governments around the world to ensure the ‘polluter pays’ principle applies to consumers who want transport, housing and lifestyle options that have a known bigger footprint. Governments still have a long way to go to get this adequately worked-out, although some are showing leadership in this area and in providing tax breaks for people who make greener consumption decisions when purchasing energy-efficient products or insulating their homes and similar sustainable options.
Read more on this topic »Reply to: What is sustainable living? What is Sustainable Development? in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 02 2010 at 09:52AM by moderator
I’m not sure if you saw the promo video for Earth Hour 2008 Alejandro, but it was based on this same principle: we think we are just one voice, but collectively we have the ability to change the world. Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9GRh_9sQBw&NR=1 The words for the EH 2008 promo included a growing chorus of people saying: “I am just one person, what can I do about global warming? I try to be environmentally aware. I try not to be wasteful. I try to do the right thing. But I am just one person, what difference can I make?” The reality is that we can all make a huge difference, just by changing small (and big) things about the way we live our daily lives. The choices we make about what we eat, what we buy will all go a long way towards addressing the problem. Obviously not in isolation, but in a collective action that requires leaders, innovators, pioneers, and early adopters – to show the way for the ‘late majority’ and ‘laggards’. It’s pretty obvious where you sit in the ‘Innovation Adoption Curve’ Alejandro. We hope your commitment encourages others to do the same.
Read more on this topic »Reply to: environment tax plus a subsidy? in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 03 2010 at 07:32AM by moderator
that's a good idea. but instead of just lowering the tax on people who're buying hybrid/electric vehicles- they could be given a subsidy instead right? like i once heard, i'm not sure though, that in the state of california, USA, electric vehicles were tax-free and they could charge them through public electricity portals without having to pay a penny.
the governments of various countries definitely need to be more pro-active. also, the rich always manage to evade tax... so care must be taken to plug any possible loopholes in such a taxation system :)
Reply to: Financing of environmental projects in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 03 2010 at 07:33AM by moderator
You’ve really hit on one of the key elements here Alejandro: sustainable finance, or more correctly, finance for sustainability. Not only do we need adequate finance to be allocated for much-needed restoration activities like reforestation which you’ve identified, but also for the finance that is allocated to these activities to have sustainability conditions attached.
In this Year of Biodiversity, WWF and other conservation organizations are calling on the world’s governments to ‘get real’ about financing biodiversity conservation and sustainability. Real financing means allocating ‘new’ money for nature conservation, covering not only funding for traditional environmental protection, management and restoration activities, but also payments for ecosystem services; subsidy reform – in the all-important agriculture, energy and fisheries sectors for example; and REDD. ‘Real Financing’ also needs to ensure the costs of externalities are included in product pricing by the private sector – covering such elements as commodity certification, water and carbon.
The second perspective here is for finance for all projects – environmental or otherwise – to be made conditional, to ensure that best practices are mainstreamed. If a company wants to access public or private funds, then it should ensure that its operations will have minimal, if not zero, impact on the environment. A timber company should ensure its operations are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, while businesses dealing in seafood should be operating under the best practice standards articulated by the Marine Stewardship Council. Similarly there are many procurement and lending policies now in operation around the world for finance to be conditional and prioritized to deliver the best outcome for the global community.
Read more on this topic »reply to: green architecture: the need of the hour in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 03 2010 at 07:34AM by moderator
This is a really interesting thread, so thanks for your post Maggie.wink. The quote from William McDonough is pure inspiration.
Yes, you’re right, there are huge gains to be made from ‘greening-up’ our architecture and construction of the places we live and work. There are many innovative solutions being adopted by designers and builders all around the world – some of which are incredibly simple, low-cost and easy to implement – whether constructing from new or retro-fitting an existing building.
Like McDonough’s quotation, some of these can be truly inspirational – such as WWF’s new offices in the Netherlands which is possibly the world's first zero carbon building. It is completely naturally ventilated and obtains its heat requirements from staff and equipment in the office, while solar panels on the exterior provide electricity and hot water. Check it out here: http://www.igreenspot.com/wwf-netherlands-the-first-zero-carbon-building/
Another really interesting project is Masdar city – the world’s first carbon-neutral, zero waste city. I’ll let you explore it for yourself at: http://www.masdarcity.ae
Read more on this topic »Problem with uploading photo in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 24 2010 at 03:45AM by moderator
What are the problems with uploading the photo?
You could always add it to the Facebook group too.
Kasia
In reply to: this is definitely the age of ... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 24 2010 at 04:04AM by moderator
These are all great suggestions
Maggie.wink. All seemingly minor changes in one’s lifestyle, but all
capable of making a huge collective difference. I really like your comment
about having a vegetable garden at home, because it’s not just about
the footprint impact, it’s also about growing healthy food, saving
money, enjoying a fun hobby, and a whole-family activity. Growing a
few herbs sure is a good way to start
To see some more easy tips
for what you can do in your garden, have a look at: http://www.panda.org/how_you_can_help/greenliving/in_the_
In reply to: The Culture The Law The People in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 24 2010 at 04:05AM by moderator
Hi Pupa, these are all good
recommendations, and just a few of a multitude of measures that universities
can implement to reduce their impact on the environment. The real beauty
of all of these measures is that they can also translate into substantial
savings for the institution. There are plenty of examples around the
world of this, and one need look no further than Harvard University
in the US and its ‘Green Campus Initiative’. It has been reported
that the Initiative saved the university about $US200,000 in its first
year alone. Many universities are reluctant to make a shift to green
technologies and systems due to perceived higher establishment and maintenance
costs. But the truth appears to be exactly the opposite. Under the Green
Campus Initiative, Harvard is reportedly saving about $US7million per
year, and all from a $US2 million start-up investment. Among the measures
implemented by Harvard and other progressive universities are energy-efficiencies
achieved through changing campus lighting, computer screens, and white
goods; switching to alternative fuel vehicles (esp. electric); building
with energy-saving design and technologies; recycling and composting;
and saving water.
In reply to: the rich-poor divide in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 24 2010 at 04:06AM by moderator
The issue of ‘the rich-poor
divide’ that you have mentioned is a really important one Maggie.wink,
and reinforces the local-to-global connection that applies to every
one of us – whether talking about an individual, a family, a community,
a city, a state, or an entire nation. Whilst keeping the global objectives
in mind, it is essential to develop policies and procedures, and take
actions, that take into account the nuances of one’s particular country,
particularly with regard to such social parameters as education, literacy,
and health. Your comments are spot-on when it comes to different strategies
and decisions required by different countries. For different nations
the policy options that they will need to consider will be about their
population consuming better, consuming differently, or consuming less.
And this may even vary within a country – perhaps between rural and
urban people, or between regional populations. Policies need to be flexible
enough to be applied to different country/regional contexts and with
very different capacities.
What are your tips for a sustainable life in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Feb 24 2010 at 04:10AM by moderator
Id love to hear what your tips are for a sustainable life.
Once everyone has contributed I will put the best together broken down into: easy, medium and hard. As well as categories for where they are relevant eg. kitchen, work, garden.
So dont hold back and ad your tips. Any photos or video's would be appreciated. We can favourite your video on youtube or add the photo to the list.
Cheers,
Kasia
Reply to: How to report poaching? in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Mar 09 2010 at 04:24AM by moderator
Hi Hibot25, thanks for your question.
Some of the planet's most iconic and endangered species are currently facing an unprecedented poaching crisis - particularly rhinoceros populations in Africa and Asia, so WWF, IUCN and many of the world's other wildlife conservation organizations and government wildlife conservation agencies are looking for all the help they can get to prevent it.
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to your question - particularly with regard the specific examples that you have come across and cited. Unless you know exactly the circumstances of the shooting of the rhino's that you have come across, it is very difficult to say with any certainty whether or not they were killed illegally, or who would be the most appropriate authorities to whom you could report the information.
If one was able to prove (or have a strong case) that the animals had been illegally killed/poached, then the most appropriate authorities to report this to would be the wildlife and conservation, and police enforcement authorities of the country where the offence occurred.
Other agencies and organizations that may be able to act on the information include the country's customs agency, possibly also Interpol, or representatives from TRAFFIC - whose mandate is to prevent poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
Reply to: Why should humans be different? in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Mar 09 2010 at 04:24AM by moderator
An interesting perspective Kumar14, but I can think of a number of human characteristics and related
traits and behaviours that also contribute to the problems we are currently discussing concerning sustainability and life’s ethics. You may have seen the previous posting among the comments quoting Gandhi: “There is enough for every man’s need, but not for every man’s greed” – however greed alone is not the only issue. Some which immediately spring to mind are NIMBYism, short-sightedness, political expediency, apathy, lack-of-awareness … As you say, it will require a fundamental change in mindset before the people of the world will be able to comprehensively move to more sustainable levels of consumption and ownership. The responsibility for this change lies within everyone – whether they be consumers, politicians, from the corporate sector, or whatever. To a large extent the information and means to move to this style of life is now available, the only real blockage is within our collective thinking, our preferences mand the choices we make.
An interesting perspective
Kumar14, but I can think of a number of human characteristics and related
traits and behaviours that also contribute to the problems we are currently
discussing concerning sustainability and life’s ethics. You may have
seen the previous posting among the comments quoting Gandhi: “There
is enough for every man’s need, but not for every man’s greed”
– however greed alone is not the only issue. Some which immediately
spring to mind are NIMBYism, short-sightedness, political expediency,
apathy, lack-of-awareness … As you say, it will require a fundamental
change in mindset before the people of the world will be able to comprehensively
move to more sustainable levels of consumption and ownership. The responsibility
for this change lies within everyone – whether they be consumers,
politicians, from the corporate sector, or whatever. To a large extent
the information and means to move to this style of life is now available,
the only real blockage is within our collective thinking, our preferences
and the choices we make.
A lovely message in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Mar 09 2010 at 04:54AM by moderator
Hi, I agree that is truly inspirational. That is what Connect2Earth is about: helping individuals like yourself to care about the environment and talk about it.
I feel honored to be a part of the project, share my experiences and talk to others about our environment.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and look forward to more contributions from you :)
Read more on this topic »Reply to: please help this community to grow further and make it more lively in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Mar 09 2010 at 04:59AM by moderator
Hi, Yes this community has a lot of potential to help influence and bring awareness about our environment.
There are many ways everyone can help such as posting links on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or any social media accounts.
We have some info here: spread the word
By contributing on this site you are also helping others to gain knowledge about how they can make a difference.
Thank you.
Read more on this topic »Reply to: Sustainable in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Mar 25 2010 at 05:43AM by moderator
Hi mlavis, these are fantastic … and inspiring. It ain’t rocket science is it? Your list of 13 personal differences that you can implement in your own daily life really demonstrate how easy it is to start leading a more sustainable, and responsible lifestyle. Even the very smallest of actions count, and hopefully these will lead to developing a more mature life-ethic that reduces our individual (and collective) footprint on the planet. If anyone out there isn’t sure what they can do, then there are a multitude of sources of information providing ‘top tips’ for living lightly – that can be sourced through the internet or environmental NGOs and agencies.
Perhaps the only barrier many people have is taking the first step, and changing at least one thing in their lives that can reduce their footprint.
I’d urge everyone who’s following this discussion to pick-up on the actions sent in by mlavis, to add more to the list, and to urge their friends to follow their lead. I’d also urge you to tell them about how individuals, making small differences, can add-up to something huge – like earth hour. It’s now just days away (March 27), so please spread the word and “together we can make a difference”
Read more on this topic »Reply to: alternatives against fossil fules in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Mar 25 2010 at 05:48AM by moderator
Hi alok bodh, you’re absolutely right in saying there has been enormous progress with solar energy in recent years – both in terms of technologies and in terms of up-take. There has been huge investment in the sector in recent times, leading to the establishment of large-scale solar energy plants around the world and improved technologies making solar energy more accessible, efficient and cheaper for energy consumers – whether they are at an industry-scale or individual households. And you’re also right, it is an amazing energy resource which is still relatively untapped, which the world needs to fully take advantage of to help us move to a more sustainable, low-impact, renewable energy regime.
Theoretically, the entire present energy consumption of the world could be met by an area of just 700 square kilometres covered in photovoltaic cells, however economic aspects are the main obstacle to tapping this potential. Despite strong growth in recent years, the worldwide contribution is still miniscule - well below 0.01%. Fortunately, the solar power sector is forecast to continue to grow dynamically in the future, but is still not expected to contribute one per cent to total power production before the year 2020. This is just not good enough for many people around the world … obviously including you. Keep-up the strong messaging on this issue.
Read more on this topic »Reply to: Actually... in Sustainable - A life's ethics
Posted on Mar 25 2010 at 05:49AM by moderator
Hi BB, your thoughts, and concerns, about the role of biofuels in the future energy mix are shared by many people around the world. There is no doubting that biofuels are a key part of the energy future – particularly for the production of renewable energy and transport fuels, but it’s important that they are developed in a manner that will not have any detrimental impacts on the environment. It’s an area that needs a huge amount of additional research and development, as well as critical governance and guidance - from both the government and industry sectors.
Biofuels should not be considered as some kind of a silver bullet – especially for the transport sector, for while the demand for biofuels is largely being driven by the need to combat climate change and to address security of supplies, addressing these effectively in the transport sector will require more than just biofuels. Mandatory fuel efficiency standards and a shift from roads to the much more sustainable rail networks, for both passenger and freight transport, will both be critical.
Biofuels must not only contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but through adoption of best management practices in producing and processing biofuels, those involved in their production should ensure there are no negative impacts on the soil, water and biodiversity, and the livelihoods of local communities. A number of conservation organizations, including WWF, promote industry certification and the adoption of best management practices protocols to safeguard these objectives.
Read more on this topic »Reply to: Manking can achive soo much more than they think in Green Economy - Leading the change
Posted on Apr 27 2010 at 03:06AM by moderator
Hi Laura,
Here at IUCN we are convinced that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. You are right that people need to think about the food they eat, where it comes from, how it is produced and who benefits. A first step is to make sure the food we eat is sustainably produced, and that the use of chemical inputs that harm the environment is minimised. I hesitate to advocate everyone eating organic food as there is some debate about whether organic farming methods can feed the world. Under organic farming yields are often lower.
It also makes sense to eat a diverse diet so that biodiversity can thrive in agricultural fields as well as in forests and seas. And we should also think about the life cycle of the food we eat. While it is often the case, it is not always the case that food produced far away has a greater negative environmental impact. For example, snow peas grown in Kenya and imported to Switzerland may have a smaller carbon (or environmental) footprint than snow peas grown in the Netherlands and imported to Switzerland because they may have been produced using more labour but fewer chemical inputs and water. We have to be careful to give agricultural producers in developing countries a chance to export their goods to bigger markets, if their goods are produced sustainably. Certification on food helps us to make better decisions.
Cheers,
Nathalie
Connect2Earth expert
Reply to: Green Economy, what do I think? in Green Economy - Leading the change
Posted on Apr 28 2010 at 08:46PM by moderator
Your raise some very important points. The first is the need to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and an important first step is to remove the very large subsidies that currently go to fossil fuels. This would help to “level the playing field” so that renewable energy sources are more competitive. You are correct that there is a great scope for using economic instruments, such as carbon taxes or cap and trade schemes, to create incentives for growth which is more sustainable, i.e. is based on renewable energy and long-term management of natural resources. The costs and benefits that businesses face should reflect resource scarcity (or abundance) and the full impact of producing the goods and services that people demand. That being said, there is also scope for people, especially Europeans and North Americans to reduce consumption by insulating buildings, recycling water and waste, driving less, etc. If each individual takes responsibility for their actions, their environmental footprint and begins to support government effort to make polluters pay and to make those who use natural resources pay for those resources, then we are already making progress in the making our economy more sustainable.
Nathalie
Connect2Earth expert
Reply to: the bottom line in Green Economy - Leading the change
Posted on Apr 28 2010 at 08:47PM by moderator
An underlying cause of deforestation is that it is more profitable to cut down a forest and use the land for some alternative use, e.g. crop production, livestock grazing, mineral extraction. To reduce or halt deforestation, we need to provide incentives to people to not convert land, and that relies on making it worthwhile for individuals or local communities to maintain forests rather than convert land to a use which brings some financial returns.
How do we reward people for conserving nature? We pay them for the services that nature provides. We pay them for the carbon stored and sequestered in trees and soil. We pay them for the watershed management that ensure a regular supply of clean water downstream. We pay them to protect the unique flora and fauna living in forests. Who are we? Businesses and taxpayers who use these services. For example, Vittel, a French mineral water manufacturer has paid farmers on the land above its source aquifer to adopt farming practices which reduce the use of chemicals and thereby minimise contamination of groundwater. In Costa Rica, a national payments for ecosystem services programme pays landholders for carbon storage, hydrological services, and the protection of biodiversity and landscapes.
An effective combination of regulation (no logging in certain areas or only sustainable logging allowed) and economic instruments (taxes, licensing and market-based instruments like cap and trade) still needs to be developed. We are developing tools to manage natural resources better – we need to apply them!
Cheers,
Nathalie
Connect2Earth expert
Reply to: Green economy? in Green Economy - Leading the change
Posted on May 05 2010 at 06:21AM by moderator
Your comment seems to imply that you think making economies more green and sustainable is based on free markets and the spread of capitalism. I do not agree. The economies of communist/socialist countries (China, Vietnam, Cuba) and countries with more regulation than free markets are also able to “green” their economies. By green economy we mean shifting patterns of production and consumption to reflect better the costs of using natural resources and of polluting, regardless of the type of economy we live in. There is no reason that a country cannot try to make investing in renewable energy more attractive, regardless of its ideological underpinnings.
It is true that some people advocate the use of market-based mechanisms to better allocate natural resources or rights to pollute; at the moment, many resources are free and poorly managed as a result. But most recognise that market-based instruments are not appropriate for all situations and that other types of economic instruments (resource taxes) and regulation are also necessary. The point is that polluters should pay and people who use resources (and pollute) should pay the full social cost of those resources (and that pollution). The point is all economies can become more sustainable and using different methods.
From the Connect2Earth expert
Reply to: Green economy in Green Economy - Leading the change
Posted on May 05 2010 at 06:23AM by moderator
I agree that businesses need to be held accountable for the damage they do when using natural resources and when converting nature to buildings, agriculture, etc. In many countries, laws exist (or are developing) which aim to prevent companies from damaging the environment or which force companies to minimise the damage they do. In Europe, for example, there is not development without an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Regulation is however difficult to implement and enforce. That is why many people are trying to think about how we can create incentives to make businesses take more account of the environment.
For example, businesses that depend on natural resources to produce their goods need to ensure a continued supply of inputs so they can stay in business. If they do not managed these resources well, e.g. if they overfish or extract too much water for agriculture or manufacturing, they will undermine the continued provision of that resource in future.
Businesses need to be made aware of their impacts and their dependencies, and then we need to think about how best to align business behaviour with sound and sustainable environmental management. Both regulation and economic instruments are important.
From the Connect2Earth Expert
New email template in Green Economy - Leading the change
Posted on May 10 2010 at 07:26AM by moderator
Tell us what you think of the new email template..
What would you like to read about in the newsletter? More news, expert discussions, blogs, etc
We want to hear your thoughts :)
Reply to: COMPETITION AMONG THE COMPANIES ON THE RISE in Green Economy - Leading the change
Posted on May 17 2010 at 10:12AM by moderator
Yes, you raise a very important issue about how widespread consumerism leads to a situation whereby we are being supplied with more goods and services than we actually need. This obviously creates a lot of unnecessary waste and excessive energy use. However, I’m not sure that imposing monopolies on specific products is the most desirable alternative. Also, restricting trade by favoring local products is also a dangerous route to tread on, and is likely to have more negative effects on the economy than positive ones. I’m not sure that the real problem is the fact that there are many brands competing for one market – competition in the marketplace is generally healthy because it brings prices down for consumers. In my view, the real problem is that we are manufacturing a lot of things that we don’t really need, and that we are being encouraged to buy and use through very clever marketing schemes. Of course, this is set within a social context that gratifies consumers for always purchasing and using more things. I personally have more faith in free and competitive – as opposed to government-controlled – markets to reward those products that minimize resource and energy use. A competitive marketplace is also more effective at making sure that products are not sitting on their shelves for ever.
Read more on this topic »In reply to: Green Economy by Sidsrao in Green Economy - Leading the change
Posted on May 21 2010 at 06:52AM by moderator
Indeed, as a direct beneficiary of diverse landscapes and wildlife, the tourism industry has an important stake in conserving biodiversity and supporting sustainable development. While tourism can be useful in supporting conservation efforts, we also need to be wary of the fact that it can also bring negative effects, which are often unanticipated. This is valid for so-called eco-tourism (or sustainable tourism) enterprises as well as large-scale operations. Considering that tourism involves the facilitation of external interests which have an influence on local contexts, we might even ask: can tourism ever be a truly sustainable enterprise?
I think you raise a very good point in support of an affirmative answer to this (somewhat provocative) question, which is the importance of tourism as a platform for education and outreach. As long as awareness around the importance of conservation and sustainability is being raised and strengthened through tourism, then it can be an important ally for the environmental community. As you mention, tourism is a very large industry and can therefore play a major role in supporting sustainable development. For that, we need to make sure that those companies which are truly making a positive contribution are being recognized (this is no easy endeavour), and that the lessons learned from their successes can be applied in other contexts.
Read more on this topic »Reply to: More number of tigers implies good ecosystem... in Tigers - The "king" threatened with extinction
Posted on Jul 14 2010 at 08:06AM by moderator
Very true! When we save tigers we save so much more! Including the forests where they live and the other species that share these forests. For example on the Indonesian island of Sumatra tigers share the forest with endangered rhinos, elephants and orangutans. This is the only place on Earth where all four of these species live together. Just another reason to save tigers!
It is true that people who are caught poaching tigers or trading their parts are rarely prosecuted or the fines they are given are minimal. WWF and TRAFFIC are working
on educating law enforcement and judiciary on the importance of prosecuting wildlife related crimes.
It is important that you tell your governments that you want them to support stricter fines for wildlife crimes, especially tiger poaching!
From the connect2earth expert
Read more on this topic »Reply to: Protecting Carnivores in Tigers - The "king" threatened with extinction
Posted on Jul 14 2010 at 08:07AM by moderator
You are absolutely right when you mention the importance of balance. In some areas where tigers live, there is plenty of space but no prey or fierce competition for prey with hunters. For example, in the Russian Far East home of the Amur tiger, WWF is focusing on not only recovering tiger populations but tiger prey populations as well through better management of protected areas and engaging wider range of local stakeholders such as local hunting communities.
See this story for more information:
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?193064/Swedish-hunters-help-save-Amur-tigers
From the connect2earth team
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