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Pope encyclical: we need a new dialogue to shape the future of our planet
Posted by Blue and Green: Ilaria Bertini on June 18th, 2015
Blue and Green: Pope Francis has finally released his much-expected encyclical on the environment and climate change, with unprecedented warnings over the use of resources, climate, poverty and sustainable consumption. The encyclical, named Laudato Si’- after the first words of Saint Francis of Assisi’s canticle in which he praised God’s creation – contains a series of considerations on our common home, the Earth, that now “cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and...
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Global Transition movement conference to come to the UK in September
Posted by Blue and Green: Ilaria Bertini on May 31st, 2015
Blue and Green: Totnes in Devon is expected to welcome hundreds of Transitioners from all over the world in September to share ideas and progress about reduction of energy consumption and waste, food growing and other core issues for the Transition Movement.
The event will take place in Totnes, Devon on September 18-20, where the Transition Movement was born in 2005. Since then, it spread to more than 1,200 communities in 47 countries, with the goal to make people’s lives more sustainable and resilient in order...
State of emergency declared over California oil spill
Posted by Blue and Green: Ilaria Bertini on May 21st, 2015
Blue and Green: Thousands of gallons of oil have flown into the ocean and on the beach near Santa Barbara on Tuesday, after a pipeline rupture. Environmentalists and citizens fear the impact of the spill on the ecosystem and tourism.
Up to 105,000 gallons of crude were lost during the spill, of which about 21,000 gallons went into the ocean, according to the US coast guard.
While emergency teams and volunteers have joined forces to clean up the beach, California Governor Jerry Brown declared the state of emergency...
Outrage as the EU Commission fails to label tar sands oil as highly polluting
Posted by Blue and Green: Ilaria Bertini on October 8th, 2014
Blue and Green: The European Commission has scrapped plans to label tar sands oil as ‘highly polluting’ after years of lobbying from the Canadian government and the industry, in a move that has concerned campaigners.
In a controversial decision on Tuesday, the commission has paved the way for Canadian oil being shipped to Europe by refusing to label it as highly polluted – with the UK among the states supporting the import of the fuel.
Oil from tar sands is a particularly carbon-intensive and polluting type...
Governments have failed to protect wildlife, UN biodiversity report finds
Posted by Blue and Green: Ilaria Bertini on October 6th, 2014
Blue and Green: As representatives from around the world gather in South Korea to discuss conservation progress, a damning new report from the UN has revealed that governments have failed to tackle the loss of species, habitat destruction, pollution and overfishing.
The latest Global Biodiversity Outlook 4, published by the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity, argues that the Aichi Biodiversity Targets set up in 2010 to protect global wildlife by 2020, and promote sustainable development at the same time,...
World’s wildlife declined by 50% in 40 years
Posted by Blue and Green: Ilaria Bertini on September 30th, 2014
Blue and Green: The number of wild animals living on the planet has halved over the past four decades because of unsustainable consumption and reckless human activities that have destroyed habitats, according to the latest figures from WWF and the Zoological Society of London.
The Living Planet Index (LPI) measures the state of the world`s biological diversity based on population trends. In the 2014 report, the two organisations have urged a shift to more sustainable ways of consumption and living, to reverse...
‘Water cops’ to monitor water crisis and drought in California
Posted by Blue and Green: Ilaria Bertini on July 23rd, 2014
Blue and Green: Bay Area water agencies are considering hiring new temporary employees to keep water usage in the area under control, after residents were advised to conserve water to mitigate the effect of the worst drought on record that has been hitting the region since February. Santa Clara Valley Water District will decide whether to spend $500,000 (£293,000) to hire up to 10 new temporary employees in order to monitor water usage and waste in the region, after attempts to make citizens save water did not...
UK food security at risk climate change and unsustainable diets
Posted by Blue and Green: Ilaria Bertini on July 1st, 2014
Blue and Green: The UK needs to produce more food with fewer resources and reassure the public on the safety of genetically modified (GM) foods if it wants to become more self-sufficient in the long term, a group of MPs has said.
A new report by the environment, food and rural affairs committee has called for “sustainable intensification” of the UK’s food system in order to increase crop yields and resilience in the light of threats posed by climate change.
Anne McIntosh MP, chair of the committee, said, “Complacency...
Shale gas reserves in Scotland ‘not worth fracking’
Posted by Blue and Green: Ilaria Bertini on June 30th, 2014
Blue and Green: The British Geological Survey (BGS) has estimated 80 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of shale gas is beneath the Midland Valley of Scotland, a much lower amount than what is said to be elsewhere in the UK, with green groups saying Scotland should not risk missing its carbon goals.
The BGS had previously estimated around 1,300 tcf in the Bowland shale in northern England and 4.5 billion barrels in Sussex Weald. However, it warned that the Midland Valley in Scotland present some uncertainties.
Prof...
FAO: forests vital in sustainable development and reducing poverty
Posted by Blue and Green: Ilaria Bertini on June 25th, 2014
Blue and Green: The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has called on the world to strengthen its forest policies so that they “put people at the centre”, recognising the role they can have in reducing poverty, providing food and contributing to sustainable development.
The State of the World`s Forests report by the FAO argues that countries do not do enough to promote the socioeconomic benefits derived from forests, given that they are precious resources for many people who rely on them for food, shelter...