[GWSG] Calix; Livewell diet; 100% by 2020; LA miniFIT; ltr to Congress; Amazon dry; fading oysters; bldg energy efficiency

[Tilley, Al]

1.  The Australian company Calix has a process to remove the CO2 from a gaseous fuel stream (natural gas or gasified coal), leaving H to drive turbines.  The CO2 can either be sequestered or fixed in a kind of concrete.  http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/28/28climatewire-australian-company-joins-race-to-make-green-29244.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

2.    The Livewell diet from the British WWF cuts food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 25%, with a 2050 target of 70%.  The diet contains meat and dairy products, but emphasizes vegetables, fruits, and unprocessed starches.  For details, see the Livewell Report link.  A sample week’s menu is on page 36.    http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/campaigning/food_campaign/livewell_2020/

3.    Energy Policy has published a plan for 100% renewable energy globally by 2020. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ygreen/20110131/sc_ygreen/100percentrenewableenergypossibleby2030  The development of solar industries in the US requires government support.
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/31/31climatewire-can-the-us-help-its-solar-power-industry-rea-27797.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

4.   The Louisiana Public Utility Commission has ordered utilities to offer a limited feed in tariff on a 5 year contract for solar energy, supported by a general charge for fuel costs.  This is FIT on the cheap, and if it works will be a significant innovation.  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/02/louisiana-puc-orders-limited-feed-in-tariff??cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-February2-2011

5.  18 climate scientists have sent an open letter to Congress outlining the basis for their concerns and the need for action.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-h-gleick/an-open-letter-to-the-new_b_816999.html

6.  Last year’s drought in the Amazon topped 2005’s.  The dead trees are expected to release about 8 billion tons of CO2 (about 1 ½ years of US emissions, more than a year’s emissions of Russia and China combined) and to move us closer to the projected loss of 2/3 of the Amazonian forest.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12356835  The diminution of the Amazon and the ongoing loss of trees in the Boreal forest accelerate global warming.  Efforts are underway in both areas to reverse the loss of forests.  http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54347

7.  About 85% of the oyster reefs have disappeared since the 19th Century.  The Gulf of Mexico holds the last beds with a good chance of preservation.    http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/oyster-reefs-are-vanishing-due-to-overharvesting/?partner=rss&emc=rss  Acidification and changes in water temperature play their role in the disappearance of the oyster.  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009336458_oysters14m.html

8.  President Obama’s Better Building Initiative would offer incentives for commercial buildings to become 20% more energy efficient by 2020.  The plan requires congressional approval.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/03/us-obama-economy-energy-idUSTRE7122YT20110203?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29