#water-food-clean air-energy Nexus

[biodiversityday]

Biodiversity's contribution to good heath and well being

Biodiversity is not just a matter of beauty or money, but also of health for everybody.

[eretzyisrael]

(via Israeli Sustainability Initiative To Pilot Village-In-A-Box With Its Own Water, Food, Energy Systems | Technology News)

No matter how hard we try, living a sustainable life is a constant uphill battle. We carry around metal straws and reusable bags to cut down on plastic consumption, turn off the water while brushing our teeth to conserve, try to buy organic produce to support sustainable agriculture. And yet, we all have a carbon footprint – some negative environmental impact that is just unavoidable.

Our planet’s resources – clean water, soil, clean air – are not infinite and Earth Overshoot Day, when humankind will have used up its allowance of resources for the year (according to calculations by the Global Footprint Network, a sustainability-focused think tank), was marked earlier this week. Five months early.

Israeli entrepreneurs Jonathan Haran and Victor Hajaj want to see drastic transformation in how we think about resources and consumption rates. And they’re aiming to effect this change on the societal and communal level.

“All the resources we need for living are part of the food-water-energy-nexus,” Haran tells NoCamels in a phone interview. “That’s all we need.”

Societies, he says, have just not understood this well enough yet, and so many municipalities, regions, and countries are managing the three realms independently of each other. “That’s inefficient because, on a macro level, food, water and energy really cannot be separated from each other. They are inseparably intertwined,” he explains.

The leapfrog in sustainability can therefore only come from an approach that sees this nexus as a whole, and enables innovation in all three sectors, he says.

Haran and Hajaj founded The Sustainable Group in 2017, an initiative that seeks to establish sustainable neighborhoods, with a focus on developing countries, while integrating technological systems “to provide for residents’ basic human needs without being dependent upon state infrastructures,” the group says. At a later stage, the systems may provide resources for the wider infrastructure network.

These technological systems include energy production systems (sun, steam, solar, hydrogen, turbines, wind, etc), food production systems (hydroponic greenhouses, aquaponics, permaculture and organics), water production and desalination systems, infrastructure and innovative sewage systems, computing systems that manage resources and report malfunctions, and construction and development systems, the group says.

      Victor Hajaj and Jonathan Haran. Photo via Haran’s Facebook page.

Working with a team of top-notch scientists from different professional backgrounds, The Sustainable Group has developed two core products.

First is the “village in a box,” a complete, shippable construction set to build a fully integrated village with an infrastructure solution that supplies communities with housing, energy, food, and water.

“Especially in remote areas that have weak infrastructure, taking this decentralized approach can have a huge impact,” Haran tells NoCamels. By giving communities their own, independent water, energy and food supplies, residents can use renewable energy and tap into the synergy of systems to their full extent, growing food locally through vertical farming, putting the village’s waste to good use and recycling water, he says. It can be an incredibly efficient approach to resource management which directly translates into as much as a 35 percent decrease in costs of living, Haran adds.

“The questions we looked at were: What will the future of community and housing look like? What challenges will humanity face? Should our homes be flexible and smart and know how to work for us, to create economic and existential security for us? Yes! How do we do that?” Haran wrote in a Facebook post earlier this year.

The challenge, he wrote, is “how to deliver more infrastructure solutions that will keep up with the fast growth of population and know how to adapt to changes. Village-in-a-box is the future of communities. A community that is sustainable and resilient; productive and self-sufficient. It can be built anywhere on the globe,” he said.

And the model is not just for villages. After all, big population centers around the world are where most resources are squandered, and where fundamental change could have the greatest impact.

The Sustainable Group is offering its resource-distribution software as a separate service. The AI mechanism is designed to learn the behavior of both humans and the environment, to understand how everything works together, after which it will be able to tell the integrated food-water-energy-system how to use its current resources in the most sustainable way.

“With that, we can save 30 percent of wasted energy, which leads to an impressive cost reduction,” says Haran.

The software is still in development and “should be done by the end of the year,” Haran tells NoCamels. “This ‘software-only’ solution would be great for cities or for industry, basically for everyone who wants to apply real-time resource management.”

The Sustainable Group recently participated in the Chivas Venture Competition, a no-strings-attached $1 million contest first founded in 2014 for social entrepreneurs with big ideas for solving the world’s biggest social and environmental issues. The Israeli group made to the finals, but the top spot went to a project from Mexico that proposes to convert agricultural waste into a natural sugar substitute.

The Sustainable Group is now focused on a joint venture with the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies to build a neighborhood based on its proposed model as a sort of proof-of-concept. Construction is set to begin next year in a kibbutz close to Mizpe Ramon. The village has been dubbed “Qayma” for now and registration for the first carbon-negative village in Israel is open.

                        Mitzpe Ramon. Israel. Deposit Photos

“That’s a great place to start,” explains Haran “since Mizpe Ramon is the most remote city in Israel. If it works here, in the middle of the desert, that’s great proof that it can work anywhere in the world.” And especially in developing countries where many people are at “the mercy of nature,” the group says. Humankind, they write, has already severely impacted natural systems through “air pollution, mining and as a result of the quick development of unsustainable energy based on fossil fuels, the destruction of the oceans of fish stocks, pollution of streams and deep aquifers, deforestation, harm to the food chain and natural ecology that plants and animals depend on.” This is especially felt in these countries .

Haran and Hajaj also want to show that living sustainably has nothing to do with being a “tree hugger,” as Haran emphasizes. “Sustainability is for everyone, and The Sustainable Group aims to give back control over resource consumption to the communities themselves. That is not just a selfless social endeavor, but also highly economical.”

The project is garnering interest in neighboring countries and communities in Israel, Haran says. Resource scarcity is especially pronounced in the Middle East. Haran tells NoCamels that The Sustainable Group is “already working with some Bedouin and Arab communities in Israel,” and would like to see more such cooperation in the future.

For now, the pilot project in Mizpe Ramon will be the next big step on the way to sustainable community living.

[nemesis-nexus]

Full Wolf Moon 2019

HAIL THE ANCIENT FAMILY! The world is a vast and wild place and we are all lucky to be part of it! What was created was meant to keep everything well cared for and to self-replicate with the turning of the Seasons! We humans were put here to be Earth Guardians and Water Protectors, the ones who were meant to oversee everything in our respective areas and to make sure that the Balance was kept so that all things could continue to thrive! However, we have lapsed into a state of complacency that has made many of us falter at our posts! Instead of protecting our Home, many humans are actively destroying it in the name of greed and arrogance, they just call it “Industry” so it sounds consistently progressive which in a sense it is, it is progressively killing off not only entire herds of animals of all kinds, it is progressively destroying the ecosystem which EVERYTHING relies on for survival INCLUDING itself, which they either don’t or don’t WANT TO understand!

Right now we here up North are in the Season of Death called Winter when the Natural World puts itself to bed to reenergize and regenerate, when the Wheel turns once more and the Season of Rebirth called Spring comes ‘round again! When you look at how Nature times everything and how everything always gets taken care of you wonder how it is the disconnect between the Natural World and the so-called Modern World of the Human Race came to be in the first place.

We are one even though we are many and we are connected by the delicate Web that holds all things in existence together!

The Web of Life includes everything and it's constructed very intricately so that every aspect of it and every life form in it plays an integral role. If anything is removed from this Web everything suffers, we have seen this before with other animal and insect species that have become extinct!

A great example; some of the endangered species include bees which if there are no bees left due to pesticides being sprayed on crops and flowers as well as humans just killing them, then we will all die! Bees are responsible for the pollination of not only trees and flowers but crops as well! In short no pollination means no crops, no crops means no food for animals OR humans!

What it comes down to is the human race has a job to do; that is to be the voice for the voiceless and protect those who even though they can fight for themselves cannot defend themselves against aerial assaults, long-range or chemical weapons!

The human race likes to think that it's above everything else and it couldn't be more wrong, the truth is all forms of life on this planet uphold one another and every time we allow a species to go extinct what we're really doing is engineering our own destruction!

The bushfires in Australia saw the deaths of millions of animals and flora, as well as massive amounts of devastation to human families! To find out that 200 HUMANS set these fires DELIBERATELY demonstrates just how deep the disconnection from the Spiritual really is, it’s as enraging as it is heartbreaking! To think that anyone could be so callous or so cruel is almost beyond belief!

As Above, So Below, All Things Great and Small from humans to our quadruped brethren, to our winged sisters and brothers, to our insect kin, all plant life, the rivers, the trees the mountains, we may take on different forms but we all need each other to survive! Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Heart/Spirit all living as one!

Earth = Heart and Earth is the Heart of us all, right now our Mother's heart is breaking because we are not doing what we need to do to heal her from our past and present transgressions, but all that can and will change if we all work together!

I have been saying this for years that if humans put aside their differences and came together as a whole with a common vision and a common goal for the future and shared ideas on how to be more proactive in ways of sustainable farming, banning factory farming, cleaning up the oceans and beaches, moving away from fossil fuels and putting a serious cap on carbon emissions we will make a significant impact and begin to change the current state of things for the better!

These are of course just a few of the things that need to be worked on and I'm not saying it's going to happen overnight but it can happen if we really want it to and we need for it to! If we stay on the course that we're currently on the only end result will be DEATH, not only to the human race but to EVERY species and life forms on the Earth!

As John Lennon once said "You can call me a Dreamer, but I'm not the only one, I hope someday you will join us and the world can live as one!" Because I truly believe that this is possible and it can be done, we just need to work together to make it happen! It's not going to be easy but it will be worth it especially for future Generations!

They say that the whole purpose of life is to create something that will outlast us and I agree because if we start this now and show people what we mean by sustainable living and renewable energy then the youth who are already stepping up and making their voices heard will join with us and keep it going long after we are gone! We CAN do this people I KNOW we can!

Tonight is the night of the Full Wolf Moon when Wolves can be heard the most and the loudest! In North America (and other areas) wolves, despite their misguided stereotypes, are not feared! Instead they are respected and revered as Spirit Animals and Guides who help the human race to not only keep fighting no matter who or what our aggressor is, but to also be strong in the face of adversity and even tragedy!

Life, Death, Intelligence, Strength, Perseverance, Stamina, Intuition, Nature and the changing of the Seasons are all gifts that have been bequeathed unto not only us but all living things and it is important that we do not forget who we are and why we are here! Remember to always be grateful for what you have but to also never stop striving to improve your situation as Time and Tide waits for NO ONE! The world does not owe us anything; our Great Mother provides everything and we as her children have a duty to show our appreciation by taking care of her and keeping her healthy so that her Heart can go on beating the rhythm of Creation and perpetual Life!

NEVER Back Up! NEVER Back Down!

NEVER Give Up! NEVER Give In!

“Wolves of Odinn

Can you hear them in the distance?

The Wolves are howling, alerting the Clans!

Can you see the shadows stretching across the frozen Tundra?

The hunters are on the move and the Moon is their only light!

Can you feel them all around you?

They are sniffing the air and catching your scent!

Can you understand what is happening?

The ones you called out have answered and are responding!

Can you run fast enough?

Your lies and deceit are about to catch up with you!

Can you cover your tracks?

No matter where you run your footprints in the snow will betray your direction!

Can you withstand the thought of all you disrespected descending upon you?

You thought you had all the power and that we were gone yet HERE WE ARE!

Do you have anything you would like to say before divine justice is reigned down?

Remaining silent will not help you now as your actions have already sealed your fate!

Did you think that we would disappear completely just because you wanted us to?

The reality is we’ve always been here and we’ve been waiting to confront you!

Did you think all the pain you inflicted would be swept away like the sands of time?

We will never forget the agony, rage, denigration or dehumanization you perpetuated!

How long did you think that you could lie, cheat and steal before the world became aware?

Your days are numbered as our Ancestors are screaming out to us and we are listening!

What will become of the world when all the Heathens rise up to reclaim our Place?

A new day will dawn when once again the Earth and all her children can live free again!

Do you know who the Wolves are that are tracking you down and ready to pounce?

WE ARE THE WOLVES OF ODINN AND WE ARE ONE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE MANY!”

---

"Dragon Spirit

In Darkness we are born,

To Darkness we shall return!

In the Middle Space of Above and Below,

The Dragons Heart doth burn!

From Stardust we are molded,

Dragons Blood in our veins!

The Sea of Tranquility carries us through,

Until Stardust again is all that remains!

The Dragons are always alert and ready,

Ever observing, hear their call!

They will fight with all due ferocity,

Until the enemy doth fall!

As the Body Earth stands steadfast,

The Breath of Wind does blow,

The Soul Fire inside vigorously churns,

While the Waters of Life doth flow!

The Darkness of this night is deep and it is long,

Comparable only to Family ties that are so strong!

The Great Wheel continues to turn brining on more changes,

It is for us to adapt or die when the script rearranges!

There is no constant and nothing is guaranteed,

But through hard work and effort we find our Dragon Spirit freed!

The most important thing to remember is loyalty to Blood and Spiritual Family,

And adhere to the premise that we are ONE even though we are MANY!"

-HPS Meg “Nemesis Nexus” Prentiss

ZI ANA KANPA! ZI KIA KANPA!

MAY THE DEAD RISE AND SMELL THE INSENCE!

AVÉ IGGIGI!

AVÉ ANUNNA!

AVÉ DRACONIS!

HAIL THE GREAT SERPENT!

RESPECT TO ODINN!

RESPECT TO FRIGGA!

RESPECT TO FREYA!

RESPECT TO FREYR!

RESPECT TO ÞOR!

RESPECT TO BALDUR!

We are ONE even though we are MANY and we stand STRONGEST when we stand TOGETHER!

HAIL THE ANCIENT FAMILY!

🐍🌎🌬💖🌿🦌🐺🐲💧🔥🐉

[agritecture]

Food Security Issues & Innovations on the Table at September Urban Agri Summit in Johannesburg

Johannesburg, South Africa (10 August 2017) - Africa's increasing concerns for food security to feed its growing populations and sustain economic development are to be tackled head-on by the region's foremost experts, regulatory authorities and various agriculture industry stakeholders at the Urban Agri Summit 2017 happening on September 7-8 in Johannesburg.

Several agri-sector leaders herald emerging innovative solutions such as vertical farming to address the continent's increasing need for an adequate and sustainable food supply. 

"Vertical Farming will inevitably be Africa's future pathway to food security and environmental sustainability," said Aliyu Abdulhameed, Managing Director for the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL). "NIRSAL's participation in Urban Agri Summit 2017 will open new frontiers to better address the multidimensional needs of agricultural value chains in competitive urban agribusiness and food industry."

Prof Michael Rudolph, Director of the Siyakhana Multipurpose Cooperative, explained: "Vertical farming is becoming an important intervention for African cities as an innovative solution to supplying food, mitigating against air and noise pollution, applying water and energy conservation and combating urban food insecurity. Vertical farming will offer inner city children, youth and adults a chance to reconnect with nature and promote better environment health in the city. The Urban Agri Summit could not have come at a better time for Johannesburg as the city looks for innovative effective and efficient ways for addressing food and nutrition security as well as an environmentally healthy place to live. I look forward to robust discussions and networking with a wide range of key stakeholders during the Summit."

Mlibo Bantwini, Executive of the Dube AgriZone, added: "The agribusiness sector in Africa has tremendous potential to contribute to economic development and assist in ensuring food security. The use of methods such as vertical faming complemented with other methods of production can play a vital role in ensuring that this potential is fulfilled. We are excited to be part of the Summit. As this will be our first participation at the Summit, we hope to interact with many stakeholders and learn from their insights and build relationships with industryplayers."

Various initiatives have already been undertaken by South Africa to spur innovation in its agriculture sector. Together with other Sub-Saharan African cities in Nigeria and Kenya, South African metropolises are joining the footsteps of many global cities to introduce sustainable urban indoor farming. A key to sustainability, however, requires farms streamlining operations and reducing resource wastage.

"Food-producing agriculture value chains must undergo innovation to increase efficiency and yields, enhance variety, and meet the dietary demands of the growing population worldwide. To do so sustainably they must reduce waste and pollution, better manage and conserve water resources, and must be powered by renewable energy and energy efficient systems." said Nicole Algio, Regional Secretariat Manager for REEEP Clean Energy. She added: "REEEP as an endorsing partner to the Urban Agri Summit 2017, has a deep understanding of specialized research and analysis into the water-energy-food nexus and agrifood value chains globally, and supports climate smart innovation in agriculture such as vertical farming that applies the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to reduce overall energy consumption of fossil fuels."

Angel Adelaja, Founder/CEO of Fresh Direct Produce & Agro-Allied Services, takes a fresh approach: “What if Africa no longer needed to import most of its food products, and agricultural value chains were strengthened, profitable, and were able to meet local demands for food without being environmentally tasking? This is my goal for my company Fresh Direct Nigeria and for African Agriculture. With increased urbanization, we need to secure our food systems not only rural agriculture, but with a complement of urban agriculture through technology and community. I'm excited that the Urban Agri Summit will be a gateway to unlock Africa's potentials through outside the box thinking.”

Urban Agri Summit 2017's is partnered by Gold Sponsor Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), and is supported by the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF) and by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).

The two-day Summit will be held at the Sunnyside Park Hotel in Parktown, Johannesburg. For more details, contact Jose at +65 6846 2366 or email jose@magenta-global.com.sg.

[catherinerabus]

Green New Deal and Intertwined Issues

        Throughout these blog posts, a central theme of mine has been a need for environmental law reform and a shift in the political views surrounding protecting the environment. Environmentalism has become a left versus right issue rather than a vital and universal survival issue. As one of the most developed countries in the world and a model to less developed countries, the United State must also become a model of environmentalism through progressive environmental reform. Recently, the Green New Deal was proposed by House Democrats. This stimulus addresses our country’s need for increased climate change mitigation reform as well as the elimination of climate change inequality. The proposal seeks to eventually transition the U.S. to 100% renewable energy, as well as introduce smart grids and upgrades in energy efficiency within American infrastructure. Additionally, the Green New Deal looks to phase out polluting transportation and implement clean and affordable public transportation.  The proposal also includes reformation within the animal agricultural industry for a more sustainable future. The proposal also wishes to provide higher education to all Americans, justice for indigenous Americans and more just labor laws for workers.

        The Green New Deal may seem like it is trying too hard to address a lot of different issues in one fell swoop, however what we must realize when talking about environmentalism and environmental policy is that climate change and environmental degradation are not isolated issues. The issue of our planet’s health impacts so many other areas, just as the earth has an effect on every aspect of our lives as humans.  This is why I believe the Green New Deal is so ingenious and necessary. It is undeniable that climate change merges a plethora of the most pressing issues of our time and therefore must be made a main issue concern for voters and their representatives.  As addressed in the proposal, racism and classism are intertwined with how harshly a community feels the effects of climate change. Minority communities are disproportionately much more susceptible to negative environmental factors such as air pollution and unclean water. The South Bronx is a clear example of this environmental racism. There is a serious air pollution problem in this area, as it holds the majority of waste transfer stations out of the entirety of New York City (New York Environment Report). The constant truck traffic along with the polluting waste transfer facilities have had a severe impact on the respiratory health of residents. There is a clear need for environmental justice in areas such as the South Bronx.

        Food consumption and the animal agricultural industry are also closely connected to climate change and environmental degradation, a fact that many Americans do not often realize. It comes as a surprise to many that the animal agriculture industry actually contributes more to climate change than the transportation sector and is the second largest contributor to human made green-house gas emissions (Climate Nexus). A 50% increase in meat consumption in the United States since the 1950s has contributed to this issue (Climate Nexus). The Green New Deal wishes to work with farmers to make their businesses more sustainable going forward.  

        With so many issues connected to it, how can politicians not unite and agree to defend our country against climate change? It may be because some do not realize or want to know how widespread the problem is, despite so many neon lights pointing to it. Perhaps it is because many of them wish to maintain their power and fear that breaking away from the status quo could jeopardize that. Whatever the case may be, the majority of American politicians have become a shameful representation of what needs to be done at this time. Perhaps surprisingly for us worn out American environmentalists, in Europe, climate change is accepted largely by politicians as a legitimate issue. Take the Paris Agreement as an example of the stark contrast in the current views of environmentalism between the United States and Europe. When Obama was in office, he was on board for this environmental cooperative, but once Trump came onto the scene, the U.S. pulled out of the landmark agreement. This relates back to not only Trump’s refusal to accept climate change as a national threat, but also to his nationalistic worldview. During a time when globalism is crucial, if not inevitable for governments today, Trump continues to peddle his “America First” mantra. Many Americans support his endeavors to do just that; however, both he and his followers are overlooking just how intertwined our world is, whether they like it or not. I believe that Europe embraces a more global world and realizes the interconnectivity of nations, as evidenced by their embrace of strong environmental policy. We certainly could learn a thing or two from our European friends. Despite this, it is a scary reality that even some of the most “green” countries in Europe, such as Germany, are already on a path to not fulfilling their carbon emission reduction targets (Bloomberg.com). Even though these societies generally accept climate change as a reality, these countries are still having a very hard time reducing their fossil fuel intake and output. On the complete opposite side of the spectrum, the United States has made no promises to reduce its carbon emissions and Trump actually supports the oil and coal industries wholeheartedly. It is now up to voters to show our support of environmentally conscious politicians who will pass environmental reform such as The Green New Deal.

        I believe Trump’s unwavering support of nonrenewable energy sources and rejection of the Green New Deal stems from what he believes is correct for America economically. What many people do not yet realize is that being environmentally conscious is actually good for the economy, despite what some politicians want us to believe. Promoting this truth may be the key to converting many Americans to a more environmentally conscious lifestyle and getting more environmental legislation passed. American voters are most concerned with having a healthy economy out of all political issues, so framing environmentalism as an economically intelligent move could be the push that we need; people have to start coming to terms with the fact that fossil fuel is expendable as a nonrenewable resource and a continued reliance on this form of energy will hurt us economically in the long run. Additionally, developing new green technologies will certainly help catapult our economy into the future, rather than lagging behind with outdated energy sources such as coal. A few people (aka. the Trumps of America) may continue to fill their pockets and support the oil and other expendable energy industries, but it will be the average citizen who suffers the most. We will be the ones paying for not only the environmental impacts of climate change, but also the economic ramifications of it.

Word Count: 1182

                                                      Works Cited

“Animal Agriculture's Impact on Climate Change.” Climate Nexus, 29 Mar. 2017, climatenexus.org/climate-issues/food/animal-agricultures-impact-on-climate-change/.

Crean, Sarah. “The Bronx Is Breathing.” New York Environment Report, 2 Mar. 2015, www.nyenvironmentreport.com/the-bronx-is-breathing/.

Wilkes, William, et al. “Germany's Failed Climate Goals.” Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, 15 Aug. 2018, www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2018-germany-emissions/.

Wolf, Zachary B. “Here's What the Green New Deal Actually Says.” CNN, Cable News Network, 14 Feb. 2019, www.cnn.com/2019/02/14/politics/green-new-deal-proposal-breakdown/index.html.

[chrysalis-rp]

Welcome to 𝓢𝓪𝓵𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓻𝒆, 

Seen by industrialists as the preeminent vision for the ecotechnic utopia, the Commonwealth of Saltaire Archipelago is the newly minted city-state currently floating off the coast of Massachusetts. In a contract with the overtaxed and desperate American government, TrueStar Industries (an engineering research and development division of the Ulex Conglomerate) was tapped to solve the major issues plaguing the United States: alleviate the strain on overcrowded cities, raise the general quality of life experienced by the average citizen, and help reverse the damage to the earth caused by climate change and social turmoil. TrueStar pitched many ideas, but the most expedient involved utilizing the vast, blue and largely unused space covering seventy percent of the globe.

Thus, the Offshore Settlement Initiative (known more fondly by those involved as Operation Lilypad), a project aiming to make net positive living spaces atop the Atlantic Ocean, was founded. In the tumultuous era of the 22nd century, self-sufficiency, sustainability, and social responsibility is of the utmost importance, and as such, every inch of the ‘ships’ themselves are packed with the best organization and engineering humanity has to offer. As upheaval and uncertainty lay heavy upon all world citizens, Saltaire was designed to introduce safety, security, and comfort back into a culture riddled with catastrophe. As such, Saltaire is a decidedly optimistic beacon for the future of humankind.

To that end, the buoyant colony enjoys many amenities that are usually available to only the wealthiest land dwellers. In addition to a continuous supply of food provided by the Euryale Island and freshwater desalinated and filtered from the ocean, various facilities are available including virtual reality suites optimized for Esper link-ups, state-of-the-art android servants/companions, crystal clear saltwater swimming pools, landing pads for anti-grav vehicles and much more. But most importantly, the islands are covered in green arboretums, lush gardens, and the Euryale Island is used exclusively for plants and insect agriculture. Thanks to Ulex technology, many rare plant species are being preserved on The Commonwealth while other extinct plants (like cocoa and coffea plants) have been successfully revived, and Saltaire citizens are the first to enjoy their reintroduction to the world as a result.

Above all the luxe trappings, however, the archipelago serves a purpose greater even than providing safety and comfort to the masses, for its main function lay in reversing the damage wreaked by industrialization.Coastlines are caked with garbage, the acidity in the ocean is killing marine life at a shocking pace, and the air we breath is clogged with harmful pollutants. To combat this, the archipelago itself acts as a massive powerful filter, removing and recycling chemicals and trash, and restoring the ocean’s natural pH as it roams the expansive waters. Meanwhile it’s robust gardens, arboretums and fields work alongside cutting edge carbon sequestration systems that scrub the air clean of pollution. Though a single island is hardly enough to overcome centuries of damage, progress toward healing the planet will gain momentum as more offshore settlements set sail.

As an archipelago, Saltaire is actually a chain of “small” districts (or isles) comprising the first of what will become several modules. With a diameter of around 3000m, each pad has a 1000m tall central tower that houses the majority of the population and provides its necessities. On the oceanfront, the vast and open area surrounding the tower, there are low-rise townhouses that provide more living space, as well as businesses and government buildings. Comprising the outermost rim, however,  pristine beaches spread out before the eyes and meet with the water. Overall, the oceanfront is a versatile space and how it’s used reflects the norms and lifestyle of each island; a cultural nexus meant to be shared and enjoyed equally by all. Thus far, Saltaire is comprised of three islands:

Victoria (p. 40,000)  - As headquarters to U.G.C., many of its subsidiaries and global partners such as TrueStar and Lorica, Victoria Island is the financial center of the commonwealth, and the driving source of GDP. Tech and software, as a result, is Saltaire’s top export. Because of this and Ulex’s pervasive impact, Victoria is a major influence upon Saltaire’s culture. It is a constantly buzzing hive of activity and energy, a place where some of the best modern minds congregate and work toward a common goal. In Victoria’s case, its oceanfront is mostly for docking/landing pads, storage, and lab space. Acting as the financial hub of the commonwealth, it also sees the most foreign traffic in and out of the island. As a whole, the aesthetic is meant to be free of distraction and therefore leans toward minimal and utilitarian design. Thusly, there aren’t many families/children in this district, and those living on Victoria tend to be individuals recruited worldwide for their talent and vision in technology. 

Euryale (p. 125,000)  - As the most populated district, Euryale makes up the core of Saltaire’s government, and is the most diverse island in terms of function. Again, anyone allowed to immigrate to Saltaire was vetted - extensively - and serves a purpose. For the experiment to work, after all, everyone is required to do their part in advancing society. Nevertheless, people living on Euryale Island have more room to be simple citizens, to grow and figure out what it means to be a Salenite. As such, the people living here are going to be small business owners, technicians, scholars, servicemen/women, local government employees, teachers, medical professionals, students, families, artists, etc. In short, the common majority. While each tower contains everything a person might need, staying indoors is detrimental to human health. As a result, Euryale’s large oceanfront is a compact metropolitan area stocked with entertainment and culture venues such as restaurants, capitol offices, theatres, museums, libraries, clubs, and even a small arena for major events. Presently, many of these areas have to be shared do to the lack of space, so your favorite Italian place might sell Pad Thai on the weekends. But as the archipelago grows, the strain on Euryale’s facilities will lessen. Euryale Remoras - Unlike the Victoria and Padma Islands, Euryale also has a pair of towerless annex cells called Remoras. A last addition, these cells are each about a third the size of Euryale Island and hold the Oben University (p 1,684) and Cavender School (p. 523) campuses respectively. 

Padma (p. 10,000) - While Saltaire plans on using trade to supplement and diversify its food stores, it must first be self reliant. With the largest surface area of the three islands, Padma acts as the breadbasket for Saltaire. At the center of Padma Island is the hydroponicum, the large tower’s main function is vertical farming, but shares space with the agricultural labs. And though each district tower has its own hydroponics bays, Padma does the majority of the heavy lifting when it comes to farming and feeding Saltaire. It is also used as the proving ground for the revived plant and insect life coming out of the Flora/Fauna Genome Catalog.

Ancile Security HQ Garrison (3,400) - Despite the optimism for the future Saltaire is meant to represent, there is a substantial subsection of society that wishes to see the project burn. As a result, protection for Salenites is one of the leadership’s highest priorities. Unfortunately for the US government, whose resources are not what it used to be, the military simply does not have the manpower to effectively protect Saltaire. That, consequently, is where the Ancile Security Firm fills in the gaps. Using a Howard-class aircraft carrier as the firm’s HQ, Ancile has a fleet of warships and submarines that circle Saltaire as a barrier for those that would do it harm. HQ is the home of most of the firm’s highly trained mercenaries, and also the location of the Base Exchange, where Salenite small business owners can sell their goods and interact with soldiers. Civilians also provide medical/custodial work as well. While the 1st Expeditionary Cohort remains based in HQ to protect Saltaire, the archipelago is actually HQ for the entire firm as well, and the majority of Ancile soldiers come in and out of the carrier as a resul, leaving the islands when they are deployed elsewhere.

As a whole, Saltaire represents the good and ingenuity humanity can achieve despite circumstance. But to many on the outside, it is easy to view Saltaire as another way for the powerful to hoard resources for themselves while others suffer. To them, Saltaire is just an experiment in gluttony, and another way for the elite to deny the grimmer realities faced by everyday people. And for those with dark intentions, Saltaire is a target for retribution. The world has yet to see which version of Saltaire’s future will come to pass, but whatever the outcome, it will surely be forever changed.

[csrgood]

Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator Expands to Include Housing Affordability Solutions

The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), a technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and co-administered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), today announced that it is expanding its focus to include clean technologies for residential buildings. The goal is to help ratepayers use energy more efficiently and lower monthly utility bills.

IN2 has selected 10 new early-stage technology companies to join the program, harnessing the world-class expertise and facilities at NREL to validate promising, early-stage, clean technologies and speed their respective paths to the commercial marketplace.

According to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, no state or metropolitan area in the U.S. has enough affordable rental inventory to meet the existing housing demand for its lowest-income residents. To help address the housing crisis, the Wells Fargo Foundation recently announced a commitment of $1 billion in philanthropic funding for housing affordability through 2025. The IN2 platform will support this broader Wells Fargo initiative by identifying and advancing promising early-stage clean technologies that will make housing more affordable and decrease energy costs.

“Wells Fargo’s affordable housing initiative aligns nicely with the IN2 mission and NREL’s expertise in construction innovation and energy efficiency,” said Trish Cozart, IN2 program manager at NREL. “With this cohort, we are taking IN2’s five-year legacy of fostering cleantech innovations that improve commercial building energy efficiency and translating that to the residential space.”

Mary Wenzel, Wells Fargo’s head of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, said, “Renewables and energy efficiency solutions for renters and low-income homeowners are important considerations in the housing affordability dialogue, and an area where we believe IN2 can help deliver both financial and environmental benefits for households and communities.”

Eight of the companies selected for this invitation-only program will focus on technologies aimed at housing affordability solutions, and two will develop technologies that improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings. Participants will receive $250,000 in non-dilutive funding and hands-on technical assistance to further develop and validate their technologies.

This sixth IN2 cohort includes companies with expertise in advanced manufacturing and construction, materials, community and district-level technologies and design tools, and energy efficiency technologies. The companies are:

AeroShield, Cambridge, Mass., manufactures a super-insulating, nanoporous form of glass for energy-efficient windows.

Blokable, Seattle, manufactures a highly energy efficient, pre-fabricated building system that reduces the cost for the company to develop multi-family housing.

Blue Frontier, Parkland, Fla., integrates low-cost thermochemical energy storage with a new air conditioning technology for commercial use.

Cypris Materials, Inc., Berkeley, Calif., creates paintable heat-reflective coatings as a roofing retrofit for both residential and commercial buildings to reduce cooling loads.

EnKoat, Tempe, Ariz., re-engineers traditional paint, plaster and stucco into energy-saving architectural coatings using phase change materials.

Pre Framing Corp, Berkeley, Calif., offers faster wall framing installation at lower costs.

Span, Inc., San Francisco, develops products to reduce the cost and complexity of adopting distributed energy systems.

Shifted Energy, Honolulu, develops a power controller and software that converts electric water heaters into intelligent, grid-interactive energy storage devices.

STRATIS IoT, Philadelphia, provides smart access, energy, water and automation management Software as a Service (SaaS) for multifamily and student housing.

Techstyle Materials, Somerville, Mass., develops a multifunctional material that automatically regulates the flows of heat and water vapor.

With the addition of these 10 companies, IN2 brings its total portfolio count to 40 cleantech startups. Since joining the IN2 program, portfolio companies have raised $202 million from external follow-on funding — on average, more than $24 for every $1 awarded by the incubator.

Since 2014, IN2 has helped 30 startups develop and prove the viability of early-stage energy efficiency technologies by leveraging the unique capabilities, expertise and facilities of Wells Fargo, NREL and other IN2 partners. In 2018, the incubator expanded into the food-energy-water nexus by selecting a cohort of agtech companies and is now extending its scope further in order to advance cleantech innovations that will make residential housing more affordable.

About the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2)

The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) is a $30 million technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation. Co-administered by and housed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, IN2’s mission is to speed the path to market for early-stage, clean-technology entrepreneurs. Launched in 2014 with an initial focus on supporting scalable solutions to reduce the energy impact of commercial buildings, IN2 has since expanded its focus to advance technologies that address the sustainable production of agriculture and housing affordability. Companies selected for participation in the program receive up to $250,000 in non-dilutive funding from Wells Fargo, technical support and validation from experts at NREL and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and ongoing connections to organizations across value chains. For more information, visit in2ecosystem.com.

About Wells Fargo

Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,500 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com). With approximately 261,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. With its corporate philanthropy, Wells Fargo aims to pave a path to stability and financial success for underserved communities by focusing on housing affordability, small business growth, and financial health, among other local community needs. In 2018, Wells Fargo donated $444 million to nearly 11,000 nonprofits. For 10 consecutive years, Wells Fargo has held the honor of No. 1 in workplace giving by United Way Worldwide. Wells Fargo team members also actively support communities by donating more than 2 million hours of volunteer time in the last year. News, insights and more information on the company’s overall corporate responsibility are available at Wells Fargo Stories and www.wellsfargo.com/impact.

source: https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/43083-Wells-Fargo-Innovation-Incubator-Expands-to-Include-Housing-Affordability-Solutions?tracking_source=rss

[ntrending]

A few unusual ideas for cleaning up cars, trucks, ships, and planes

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A few unusual ideas for cleaning up cars, trucks, ships, and planes

A cargo ship. (Pexels/)

Nearly a century ago, German engineer Anton Flettner launched a ship into the ocean. “Without sails or steam, like a ghost ship, it moved mysteriously through the water with no apparent means of propulsion,” according to a 1925 article that appeared in Popular Science Monthly. The ship cruised in silence, without spewing anything into the air. Curiously, two odd-looking, giant spinning cylinders rose from her deck as “the ship plowed its way through the rough waters of the Baltic, at nearly twice its former speed,” the article said.

Flettner used those cylinders—called rotor sails—to power his ship, harnessing the same source that first drove vessels through the sea hundreds of years earlier when they began sailing: the wind. At the time, his invention couldn’t compete with steam, coal and, ultimately, the modern diesel engine. But today, as the world copes with climate change, the shipping industry—indeed, the entire global transportation sector—must find ways to wean itself from fossil fuels and transition to cleaner energy. Among these efforts, Flettner’s old idea has gained new traction.

Flettner’s rotor ship, the Buckau, in 1924. (Library of Congress/)

“Who would have thought that centuries later we would be taking a hard look at how to harness the power of the wind to power ships?” says Bryan Comer, a senior researcher in the marine program of the International Council on Clean Transportation. “In the beginning, all ships were zero emission, using human power—oars—or wind. Now, in an effort to reduce costs and environmental impacts, we’re starting to see innovative uses of wind power, including rotor sails. It seems we have come full circle.”

The transportation sector accounts for nearly a quarter of the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases discharged into the atmosphere. Still, energy moves our cars, trucks, buses, trains, ships, and airplanes, everything we depend upon to deliver food and consumer goods, to commute to work, to go shopping, to get the kids to school and soccer practice, and to fly the job-weary to a long awaited vacation. People aren’t going to abandon their vehicles anytime soon, and if people can’t change, then the vehicles must.

Experts agree that the transportation sector must undergo fundamental changes, starting now, if we are to keep warming to 1.5 degrees C, the target set by the Paris Climate Agreement. “We need to start the technological shift in transport immediately and at a very high pace in order not to fall short of the ambitious Paris climate goals,” says Johannes Pagenkopf, a scientist and vehicles systems specialist with the German Aerospace Center.

Traffic jam in New Delhi. (Lingaraj GJ/)

Transport today still depends heavily on fossil fuels, with only a small share based on electricity. “We need to profoundly shift our current transport systems towards a carbon-neutral future,” says Pagenkopf.

Ships account for around 3 percent of CO2 emissions globally, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation. Experts in the shipping industry think that wind-assisted technologies—rotor sails among them—will help vessels reach emission reduction goals set by the International Maritime Organization. The group has called for lowering carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2050 compared to 2008 levels.

Ships armed with rotor sails wouldn’t be fossil-fuel free, but the technology could help curb fuel use and pollution. In addition to rotor sails, ships could also deploy innovations such as a blower to pump air bubbles under the ship and across part of the hull, reducing drag and thus the amount of power needed by the main engines.

The amount of energy used per person per mile by different forms of transport, as measured in metric tons of oil. (International Energy Agency/)

Beyond shipping, Pagenkopf believes that other transportation modes must be powered by electricity. To that end, he believes people should rely more on trains instead cars and airplanes, since most railways already use electricity. Someday, he hopes the same will be true of planes and ships. “Battery and fuel cell electric propulsion for short- and medium-range planes and ships will get momentum” he says.

Some short-range airplanes already use battery-derived power for short distance flights that carry only a few passengers. And, “the industry has actually taken to the idea of electric aircraft in many meaningful ways,” says Phil Ansell, assistant professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Lots of different industry groups are currently conducting internal research into electric aircraft concepts.”

An airplane flying above Chicago. (Pexels/)

There are major obstacles to overcome, however, before batteries will routinely power planes, especially on longer flights. Current batteries are too heavy to carry planes very far; research must focus on making them lighter. Because of these drawbacks, scientists are looking at other options, including hybrid systems that pair batteries with fuel.

Xianguo Li, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering at the University of Waterloo, is working on something similar, pairing batteries with fuel cells for use in automobiles. He believes his system will last as much as ten times longer than current fuel cells and can be produced cheaply enough to eventually replace conventional gas engines. The system consists of a battery and three fuel cell units of identical size that shift among themselves, depending on the amount of power needed.

Professor Xianguo Li seen here with his fuel cell test vehicle in his lab. (University of Waterloo/)

“During low speed driving, the battery provides the power,” Li said. “One of the three fuel cell units would be activated if the battery energy level is low or battery power is not sufficient, and the fuel cell output would be used partly for driving and partly for charging the battery. If the vehicle speeds, two of the three fuel cells would be activated, and at full load all three fuel cells would be activated.” But he says the fuel cells likely would last longer because a vehicle needs full power only around one-third of the time.

Similarly, Li’s Waterloo colleague, Amir Khajepour, has developed a new valve technology that increases the efficiency of conventional internal combustion engines by more than 10 percent. He also has created a battery system that harnesses and stores heat that a vehicle creates when it brakes, but still allows refrigeration units and air conditioners to run during idling.

“Combustion engines will be the horse force of heavy transportations for many years to come,” he says. “In addition, the current vehicles especially used in city buses or utility fleets have at least another decade of life span. Any technology that can reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of such vehicles will have a huge impact in making the transportation system greener.”

Marlene Cimons writes for Nexus Media, a syndicated newswire covering climate, energy, policy, art and culture.

Written By By Marlene Cimons/Nexus Media News

[globalwarmingisreal]

Path to New Climate Economy Leads to $26 Trillion in Economic Benefits

The potential rewards of making the transition to sustainable, climate-conscious economies are greater than originally estimated – including $26 trillion worth of economic benefits globally out to 2030. We’re at a critical juncture regarding forging a new circular and people-centered economic order that can avoid the profound impacts of runaway global climate warming, according to the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate.

Investment decisions made during the next two to three years will largely determine whether or not the potential economic gains are realized, and whether or not global mean temperature rise will be held under the 2 degrees Celsius cap established as a climate change tipping point, according to the commission’s new, 2018 report.

A forecasted US$90 trillion will be invested in new infrastructure out to 2030, more than the current world stock today. Much of that will be allocated in the next few years, the commission, also known as New Climate Economy, highlights. 

A low-carbon, sustainable growth path

The low-carbon, sustainable growth path set out by New Climate Economy could conservatively yield a direct economic gain of US$26 trillion through to 2030 as compared to a business-as-usual scenario, according to report.

That includes the creation of more than 65 million new, low-carbon jobs. And it’s equivalent to the national workforces of the UK and Egypt combined. In addition, more than 700,000 premature deaths from air pollution would be avoided as compared to the business-as-usual scenario.

An estimated US$2.8 trillion in government revenues per year in 2030 could be gained simply by eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and instituting carbon emissions tax or markets alone. That’s greater than India’s present-day GDP, money that could be invested to address broad-based, increasingly costly and pressing problems in developed and developing nations worldwide, such as rapid urbanization, depletion and degradation of ecosystems and natural resources, deterioration of fiscal conditions, and public goods and services, the report authors say.

The transition to new, climate-conscious and more people-centered economies and societies is well underway, and momentum continues to build, they go on to state.

“The momentum from businesses, states, cities, investors, and citizens is now unstoppable, not least because those taking bold climate action are already seeing tangible benefits,” said Unilever CEO Paul Polman, CEO, co-chair of the Global Commission.

“But if we are to unlock the full benefits of this new low carbon growth opportunity and avoid runaway climate change, economic and financial leaders in both government and the private sector need to do even more, and fast.”

Massive infrastructure investments in the works

The report authors point to China’s multi-trillion dollar “Belt and Road Initiative” as an example of the massive infrastructure projects now in progress.

The initiative will go a long way towards stimulating economic growth and development, as well as determining the course of greenhouse gas emissions for more than 70 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

“This is our ‘use it or lose it’ moment. Investing the US$90 trillion to build the right infrastructure now will deliver a new era of economic growth,” the report authors state in the report’s summary.

“Investing it wisely will help drive innovation, deliver public health benefits, create a host of new jobs and go a long way to tackling the risks of runaway climate change. Getting it wrong, on the other hand, will lock us into a high-polluting, low productivity, and deeply unequal future.”

New Climate Economy’s model for building “a better, more people-centered, more resilient” socioeconomic system is centered on accelerating structural transformation in five key areas:

Clean energy systems: The decarbonization of power systems combined with decentralized and digitally-enabled electrification technologies can provide access to modern energy services for the billion people who currently lack it; strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to energy price volatility globally; build overall system resilience to increasing natural hazards (especially in vulnerable, small island states); and cut the costs of outdoor air pollution worldwide.

The clean energy transition is well underway, driven by market forces and plummeting costs of renewable and storage technologies. The world now adds more renewable power capacity annually than from all fossil fuels combined. The world now adds more renewable power capacity annually than from all fossil fuels combined.

Smarter urban development: Better urban planning and strategic infrastructure investment, particularly the expansion of public and non-motorized transport networks, can overcome bottlenecks to economic growth – such as congestion and air pollution – for more livable cities.

More compact, connected, and coordinated cities are worth up to US$17 trillion in economic savings by 2050 and will stimulate economic growth by improving access to jobs and housing. They can strengthen resilience to physical climate risks and could deliver up to 3.7 gigatons per year of CO2e savings over the next 15 years, just shy of the total emissions of the European Union (EU) today.3 Integrated national urban policy frameworks can guide sustainable and inclusive urban development.

Coordinated, compact, and connected cities could result in US$17 trillion in economic savings by 2050.

Sustainable land use: The shift to more sustainable forms of agriculture combined with strong forest protection could deliver over US$2 trillion per year of economic benefits; generate millions of jobs, mainly in the developing world; improve food security including by reducing food loss and waste (a third of all food produced is lost or wasted along the food chain); and deliver over a third of the climate change solution.

At the same time, restoration of natural capital, especially our forests, degraded lands, and coastal zones, will strengthen our defenses and boost adaptation to climate impacts, from more extreme weather patterns to sea-level rise. Sustainable agriculture and forest protection together could deliver over US$2 trillion each year in economic benefits.

Wise water management: Today, 2.1 billion live without readily available, safe water supplies at home, and 4.5 billion live without safely managed sanitation.8 Water will also be where climate change impacts will be felt most keenly. Water scarce regions, notably the Middle East, the Sahel, Central Africa, and East Asia could see gross domestic product (GDP) declines of as much as 6% by 2050 as a result of climate change, spurring migration and sparking conflict.

There are enormous opportunities to curb these impacts by using water better, whether through the deployment of improved technology (from drip irrigation to remote sensors to water-efficient crops), planning and governance, use of water prices with targeted support to the poor, or by investing in public infrastructure. Today, poorly managed and often under-priced water results in the over-use and misallocation of resources across the economy.

Addressing the water-energy-food nexus will be critical, particularly in increasingly water-stressed regions. Today, 2.1 billion live without readily available, safe water supplies.

A circular industrial economy: From 1970 to 2010, annual global extraction of materials grew from almost 22 to 70 billion tonnes. Each year, at least eight million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean, contributing to a major new challenge for the 21st Century. Microplastics have been discovered in 114 aquatic species, many of which end up in our dinners. This challenge, however, is not just a social or environmental issue; it is also economic. Today, 95 percent of plastic packaging material value—as much as US$120 billion annually—is lost after first use.

Policies which encourage more circular, efficient use of materials (especially metals, petrochemicals and construction materials) could enhance global economic activity, as well as reduce waste and pollution. Shifting to a circular industrial economy, combined with increasing efficiency and electrification, including for hard-to-abate sectors and heavy transport, could decouple economic growth from material use and drive decarbonization of industrial activities.

*Images credit: Global Commission on the Economy and Climate

The post Path to New Climate Economy Leads to $26 Trillion in Economic Benefits appeared first on Global Warming is Real.

from http://bit.ly/2CYAvMb

[investmart007]

Large-Scale Wind and Solar Farms in the Sahara Would Increase Rain and Vegetation

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Large-Scale Wind and Solar Farms in the Sahara Would Increase Rain and Vegetation

COLLEGE PARK, MD./ SEPTEMBER 08, 2018 (STL.News)

A new study led by University of Maryland (UMD) scientists conducted novel climate and vegetation model experiments to show that wind and solar farms could lead to a doubling of rainfall in the Sahara and an increase of up to about 20 inches (500 mm/year) in the Sahel, a semi-arid transition region that lies south of the Sahara.

Large-scale wind and solar farms in the Sahara could provide enough energy to replace the fossil fuel energy used currently and in the foreseeable future. The primary effect of such renewable energy farms would be a substantial reduction of human-generated greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting mitigation of climate change. However, such large-scale wind and solar farms could also affect regional climate due to changes to land surface properties. An international group of researchers, led by UMD scientists, explored such climate impacts by including bidirectional vegetation feedbacks between a global climate model and a land/vegetation model. Their findings were published today in Science.

“Our model results show that large-scale solar and wind farms in the Sahara would more than double the precipitation in the Sahara, and the most substantial increase occurs in the Sahel, where the magnitude of rainfall increase is between ~200 and ~500 mm per year,” said Yan Li, a lead author of the paper who was a UMD postdoctoral researcher when the study began and is now at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “As a result, vegetation cover fraction increases by about 20 percent.”

“Precipitation increases predicted by our model would lead to substantial improvements of rainfed agriculture in the region, and vegetation increases would lead to the growth in production of livestock,” said Safa Motesharrei, UMD Systems Scientist and a lead author of the paper. “The Sahara, the Sahel, and the Middle East include some of the driest regions in the world, while experiencing high growth of population and poverty. Our study has major implications for addressing the intertwined sustainability challenges of the Energy–Water–Food nexus in this region.”

“Moreover, the availability of vast quantities of clean energy would allow for desalination of seawater and transporting it to the regions that suffer most from severe freshwater scarcity, in turn, leading to improvement of public health, expansion of agriculture and food production, and even restoration of biodiversity,” added Motesharrei about the broader societal, economic, and ecological impacts of their novel scientific findings.

Past as Prelude “In 1975 Jule Charney, my PhD advisor at MIT, proposed a feedback mechanism to help explain the drought in the Sahel, the semi-arid transition region south of the Sahara: Overgrazing increased surface albedo [reflectivity], reduced precipitation, and in turn further reduced vegetation,” said Eugenia Kalnay, University of Maryland Distinguished University Professor and a lead author of the paper. “About a decade ago, I had the idea that this feedback would work in the opposite direction in the presence of large solar panel farms, since these would reduce the surface albedo. Similarly, wind farms would increase land surface friction and convergence of air, thus producing upward motion and precipitation. This is a second feedback mechanism that was discovered by Y.C. Sud in 1985, but again in the opposite direction. These feedback mechanisms suggest that both large wind and solar farms in the Sahara would significantly increase precipitation and vegetation. Our results support this conclusion.” (See Figure.)

The figure and related code and data available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7045547 “Solar and wind power projects in Africa and the Middle East are already underway, from Morocco to Dubai to Ethiopia, including over 200 GW of solar power planned by 2030,” said co-author Jorge Rivas, a political scientist. “This renewable electricity could be transported to regions a few thousand kilometers away, and long-distance transmission lines have already existed in Africa and elsewhere for decades.”

“This study accomplishes something completely new: it looks at how human action can affect the land surface through construction of solar and wind farms, and shows that for land use change of this magnitude, it is fundamental to look at the impact on regional climate using global climate models that account for land–atmosphere feedbacks,” said Paolo D’Odorico, Professor of Ecohydrology at the University of California, Berkeley, who was not a co-author.

This study shows “that dynamic vegetation feedback could enhance the impact of land use changes on climate in this specific region [Sahara and Sahel],” said Guiling Wang, a Professor of Hydroclimatology at the University of Connecticut, who was not a co-author. “Studies using models with static [prescribed] vegetation may underestimate the effects on regional climate of anthropogenic activities such as deforestation or wind and solar farms.”

“These experiments with dynamic vegetation feedback in our model show that the positive precipitation–vegetation–albedo feedback accounts for about 80 percent of the simulated precipitation increase in the wind farm experiments,” said co-author Eviatar Bach, PhD Candidate at the UMD Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science (AOSC). The dynamic vegetation model was developed by co-author Ning Zeng, a Professor at UMD AOSC, and coupled into the global climate model developed by co-author Fred Kucharski, a climate scientist at the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Italy.

“While it was known that surface roughness and albedo can affect climate and rainfall, the conclusion that including dynamic vegetation would lead to a strong positive feedback in rainfall is new,” said J. Shukla, a renowned climate scientist and Distinguished University Professor of Climate Dynamics at George Mason University, who was not a co-author. “This research certainly suggests that it will be possible to create a self-sustaining renewable energy system, which will be greatly beneficial for the socioeconomic development of the region.”

“The Sahara has been expanding for some decades, and solar and wind farms might help stop the expansion of this arid region,” said Russ Dickerson, a leader on air quality research and a professor at UMD AOSC, who was not a co-author. “This looks like a win-win to me.” he said.

“Climate model shows large-scale wind and solar farms in the Sahara increase rain and vegetation” by Yan Li, Eugenia Kalnay, Safa Motesharrei, Jorge Rivas, Fred Kucharski, Daniel Kirk-Davidoff, Eviatar Bach, and Ning Zeng. Science, 2018 September 7. DOI: 10.1126/science.aar5629

Online version of release is available here: https://www.umdrightnow.umd.edu/news/sahara-desert-expanding-according-new-umd-study

_____ SOURCE: https://www.prweb.com/releases/large_scale_wind_and_solar_farms_in_the_sahara_would_increase_rain_and_vegetation/prweb15747474.htm

[coolcoldbouquetthings-blog]

Green India Clean India

Green India, Clean India

 “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” In my opinion, this is one of the most thoughtful and poignant quotation about our environment. India is the fourth worst country in the world when it comes to handling environmental issues, according to the 2018 Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Out of 180 countries, India ranked 177, only better in environmental performance than the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh and Burundi. This is especially worrying because two years ago, India's rank was 141. Not only this there are several statistics pointing out our low rankings, indicating poor environmental conditions in our country.

 The EPI report said that a low rank meant that a nation needed to step up its efforts in cleaning up air quality, protecting biodiversity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also said that countries like India (with an air quality of 5.75), China and Pakistan faced a public health crisis. The fact that rapidly growing economies like China and India ranked low reflects the strain which economic growth has on the environment. That said, China is ranked 120 and ostensibly in much better shape than India. The top five countries in terms of green rankings are Switzerland, France, Denmark, Malta and Sweden. Switzerland stands out in the categories of climate and energy, and air pollution. Denmark, Malta and Sweden stand out for high scores in air quality within environmental health. Malta scores the highest in water and sanitation.

 There are many environmental issues in India. Air pollution, water pollution, garbage and pollution of the natural environment are all challenges for India. Pollution remains a major challenge and opportunity for India.Environmental issues are one of the primary causes of disease, health issues and long term livelihood impact for India. We are facing various environmental challenges. It is essential to get the country acquainted with these challenges so that their acts may be eco-friendly. Some of these challenges are as under:

●        Population growth: with a population of 1.25 billion and a high growth rate it puts considerable pressure on its natural resources and reduces the gains of development. Hence, the greatest challenge before us is to limit the population growth.

●        Poverty: due to excessive population, it's clear that there is a shortage of natural resources. The poverty and environmental degradation have a nexus between them. The vast majority of our people are directly dependent on the nature resources of the country for their basic needs of food, fuel shelter and fodder. About 40% of our people are still below the poverty line.

●        Agricultural growth: The people must be acquainted with the methods to sustain and increase agricultural growth with damaging the environment. High yielding varieties have caused soil salinity and damage to physical structure of soil.

●        Lack of clean Water: It is essential of rationalizing the use of groundwater. Factors like community wastes, industrial effluents and chemical fertilizers and pesticides have polluted our surface water and affected quality of the groundwater. Low groundwater table levels are very concerning.

●        Loss of forests: due to increasing development and urbanization, lots and lots of forests are cleared. Forests along the rivers are also cleared due to construction of dams, and this extensive deforestation has lead to the degrading environmental condition.

●        Air quality: due to low vegetation coverage, it's but obvious that the air quality will be poor. And reports have suggested that 4 out 10 most polluted cities in world belong to India. India was the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, in 2009 at 1.65 giga tonnes per year, after China and the United States.

 Most of these problems are common for all developing countries and can be tackled effectively to reduce the impact of these factors. Government of India has laid down several rules and laws to control this and maintain a sustainable development for the country.  Indian laws from recent history include the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974, the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981. In 1985, Indian government created the Ministry of Environment and Forests. This ministry is the central administrative organisation in India for regulating and ensuring environmental protection. Despite active passage of laws by the central government of India, the reality of environmental quality mostly worsened between 1947 and 1990. Rural poor had no choice, but to sustain life in whatever way possible. Air emissions increased, water pollution worsened, forest cover decreased.Starting in the 1990s, reforms were introduced. Since then, for the first time in Indian history, major air pollutant concentrations have dropped in every 5-year period. Between 1992 and 2010, satellite data confirms India's forest coverage has increased for the first time by over 4 million hectares, a 7% increase. “ Green India, Clean India” campaign has started to raise an issue over these problems and has helped in teaching and sending the message of sustainable development and importance of our environment.

 Afforestation and festivals like ‘vanmahosthsav’ has lead to an increase in the vegetation coverage over these years and statistics suggest that the actual forest coverage has increased over the past decade. Several laws forbidding deforestation and making biodiversities inaccessible for locals and constructors. Recently on June 2018, Delhi High Court ordered to clear and chop around 16000 trees in south Delhi for development. This step was harshly criticised in social media and people and NGOs have started their own chipko movement to protect the trees. Taking into consideration the air quality of Delhi, it's very sad to see High Court taking decisions like this. Instead, we should opt for sustainable development, where development goes hand in hand with protecting the environment.

 Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission is a campaign in India that aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India's cities, smaller towns, and rural areas. The objectives of Swachh Bharat include eliminating open defecation through the construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets and establishing an accountable mechanism of monitoring toilet use. Run by the Government of India, the mission aims to achieve an Open-Defecation Free (ODF) India by 2 October 2019, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, by constructing 90 million toilets in rural India at a projected cost of ₹1.96 lakh crore. The mission will also contribute to India reaching Sustainable Development Goal Number 6. The campaign was officially launched on 2 October 2014 at Rajghat, New Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is India's largest cleanliness drive to date with 3 million government employees, school students, and college students from all parts of India participating in 4,041 statutory cities, towns and associated rural areas.

 We should not only think of afforestation while thinking of making India green, we should also take into account the cleanliness of our surrounding. Reduce, reuse and recycle policy can be implemented on an individual level to reduce the levels of pollutions. Substituting plastics with jute and paper bags are good step towards making India green. We should be less dependant on non renewable sources of energy like petroleum, coal etc and switch for green energy like solar power, wind power, natural gas etc. Changes won't happen overnight, but everyday if we put small small efforts, we could make it clean in near future.

[nexusradiodance]

Electric Zoo: From Amazing Acts to Flocks of Crowds

Day 1

Electric Zoo Transformed Music Festival began on Friday, September 4th on a balmy summer day. People from all walks of life and all different countries came together to celebrate electronic dance music in its most creative form yet and share the experience of a lifetime. With a great festival comes great talent. Day One brought both rising and established acts to the stages set up around the massive field. Here are the performers who killed it right out of the gates.

One of the surprisingly earlier acts of the day was Don Diablo.  The future house aficionado played out many of his originals including “Universe”, “Anytime”, and “On My Mind”. The Dutchman skillfully and seamlessly weaved from song to song, keeping the rhythm strong at all times. The crowd moved to the heavy house sounds and by the end of his set, Don Diablo had completely captivated the audience.

Alison Wonderland was another amazing act to watch. Her energy permeated throughout the crowd as she stood on stage dancing and hair flipping to the beat. From her viral remixes to her original records, one of the most exciting moments of her set was when she dropped “U Don’t Know”. It’s incredibly inspiring to see how far she has come in her career and watch her fan base exponentially grow year after year.

When it comes to melodic music, there is no one who does it better than Primary Wave’s artist, Audien. He came onstage in a black tee and trendy shades, looking completely in the zone for his set on the mainstage. As expected, he played his monstrous high-octane remix of ‘Pompeii’ by Bastille which was certainly a crowd favorite. The Connecticut-based artist was all smiles when he played his newest song ‘Something Better’, featuring Lady Antebellum. The record is soaring up the Billboard charts and continues to get added to radio stations nationwide.

Last but not least, it is important we show love to arguably the hottest act of the summer, Galantis, who released their debut album ‘Pharmacy’ two months back. The duo’s fierce energy paired with girls hoisted on ravers shoulders and mosh pits galore, it was the ultimate party set. They sprinkled their set with several of their originals off the album, including ‘Gold Dust’, ‘Forever Tonight’ and their smash hit ‘Runaway’.

Besides the relatively steep prices on food and beverages – when the EZoo dollar is stronger than the US dollar, we know we can do better – it was an excellent experience graced by good weather. Off to Day Two!

Day 2

Crisp air and clean spirits filled Randalls Island on day two of Electric Zoo. Although the island was a bit more crowded than Friday, good vibes were prevalent and excitement was at an all time high. Saturday afternoon boasted a variety of talented acts such as Dirty South, TJR, and Brillz. In the evening, the main stage was flooded with fans as Nervo, Adventure Club, and Above and Beyond preformed.

One of the most memorable acts of Saturday was Nervo. The ladies took the stage with energy that poured over the crowd. Some of the tracks that were played were “Sandstorm”, “Reason”, and “Deep Down Low”.  Nervo enthralled the crowd with smooth transitions, excellent song selection, and high energy. The duo definitely made an impact at Ezoo for many fans.

Another memorable act was Excision. Excision played in the hilltop arena under the huge tent that fans seemed to be bursting out of. I had the privilege of  watching Excision front and center to take pictures. The bass rocked the crowd with every beat, and I swore I could feel the music in every pour of my skin. Overall, Excision destroyed the crowd with bass and took the hilltop arena by storm.

Flocks of festival attendees started heading towards the mainstage when superduo Adventure Club took the throne. To many peoples surprise, their set was primarily progressive house. However, they redeemed themselves by playing their single ‘Gold’ featuring Yuna. Their melodic dubstep music received the greatest reaction from the crowd and brought back emotional memories for several couples sprinkled out.

When Above & Beyond came on, the mood changed. Everyone came together as one, it was one large dance music family that had just met. The love and friendship that was spread across the field was something I had never encountered before.  ‘Sun and Moon’ was a crowd favorite of the night and the stars began to peer out in the dark night. Cue the fireworks! It was an impeccable performance by Above & Beyond that will never be forgotten.

Security was incredibly friendly at all hours, providing all attendees with information about the festival grounds, where to find food and beverages, and even danced with festival goers when the beat was right. Onto the final day of Electric Zoo!

Day 3

As Electric Zoo comes to a close, we thought it’d be better to recap the entire weekend rather than focusing on just Sunday for our day three review. Made Event, the organizers behind the festival, made security a top priority this year. They added many drug-sniffing dogs, created countless wristbands with very specific access, and enforced their own currency called ‘EZ Bucks’.

Once you made it past check-in, the first thing on everyone’s agenda was to go to the “Tap-Up” booth where you gave staff cash or credit in return for EZ bucks. When the EZ buck is stronger than the US dollar, you know we have a problem. $20 converted to 9 EZ bucks, which essentially got you a water and a sandwich. Despite the high prices, the talent was on point all three days. From standouts Galantis and Alison Wonderland on Friday, Above & Beyond on Saturday, to The Glitch Mob and Alesso on Sunday, there was no shortage of elite talent.

EZoo fans were blessed with beautiful warm weather the entire weekend, breaking the festival’s curse that canceled Sunday the past two years. One aspect of the festival that was rather disappointing though was the lack of branding. It is the Zoo after all. Besides the few stilt walkers dressed as zebras, the Riverside stage which morphed a zebra, octopus and snake into one odd fantasy creature, and the zebra bench in the T-Mobile VIP lounge, there were very few indicators of the festival’s theme.

Moreover, the mainstage looked like it was shorted due to budget cuts. For a lack of better words, it looked unfinished. Electric Daisy Carnival’s stage setups blew Electric Zoo out of the water without question.

On a brighter note, security throughout was very friendly and sometimes even danced to the beat. When Oliver Heldens is playing out his future house tracks, it’s hard not to.

All in all, it was a decent festival that unfortunately lacked strong attendance. Sunday was definitely the most popular day of the three, possibly because they were in direct competition with Made In America, a multi-genre festival in Philadelphia. Let’s see how Electric Zoo comes back next year.

  from Dance – Nexus Radio http://ift.tt/2yVKZVN