The Copenhagen summit is the world’s last chance to save the planet from “catastrophic” global warming, according to a major study led by Lord Stern of Brentford, the country’s leading authority on climate change.
Without an international agreement to limit global warming, temperatures are likely to rise by 9F (5C) by the end of the century – triggering mass migration, warfare and world hunger, according to the report.
But Lord Stern, who produced the report together with the London School of Economics and other leading academics, said it was still possible for the world to keep the temperature rise below 3.6F (2C) – but only if world leaders agree to cut global emissions at next week’s UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen.
However the world must be prepared to spend more money on tackling climate change through both public finance and a new raft of “carbon taxes”.
Lord Stern described the summit as the “most important gathering since the second world war, given what is at stake”.
His comments come as the Prince of Wales confirmed he would attend the summit to urge world leaders to take action against climate change. The outspoken campaigner on environmental issues it expected to put particular emphasis on the need to stop deforestation.
“Let us not allow mistrust, pessimism and lack of ambition to take us stumbling into profound dangers. Instead let us have real vision and leadership in both developed and developing countries which seize the opportunities offered by Copenhagen, for us, our children and future generations,” he said.
The former World Bank economist’s report on climate change in 2006 – known as The Stern Report – is regarded as the single most influential political document on climate change in Britain.
However, Lord Stern admitted that even he had underestimated the risk of global warming in the past.
His new report, compiled with the London School of Economics, University of Leeds and Economic and Social Research Council, has calculated the cuts the world will need to make in greenhouse gases to stand a good chance of keeping temperature rises within a safe limit.
Previously Lord Stern had said the world must keep levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere below 550 parts per million of carbon dioxide. However, following scientific evidence that the world is losing its ability to absorb carbon dioxide in the soils and oceans, he said this will now have to be kept below 500ppm.
This will mean halving the amount of carbon dioxide the world is currently pumping into the atmosphere through factories, transport and other emissions.
“It is possible to create a 50/50 chance of avoiding a rise in global average temperature of more than 2C, which many scientists regard as the threshold for dangerous climate change,” he said. “To do this we need to halt and reverse the growth of annual emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, reducing them from about 47 billion tonnes in 2010 to about 44 billion tonnes in 2020, and decreasing to must less than 20 billion tonnes in 2050.”
Lord Stern said that the world could achieve these targets if the rich countries reach their most ambitious targets. He said the European Union should agree to cut emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 and the UK should cut greenhouse gases by more than 40 per cent over the same period. This would mean the “decarbonisation” of electricity by switching to nuclear or renewables, replacing petrol cars with electric vehicles and insulating all homes.
The former adviser to the UK Treasury has also advocated individuals “do their bit” by eating less meat, flying less and recycling more.
Lord Stern said the developing world will also have to make cuts, as these countries will be responsible for most emissions in the future as countries like China grow.
However this will require finance from the rich world to help less developed economies switch from dirty coal-fired power stations to new technologies like wind and solar. Poor countries will also need money to adapt to the effects of climate change such as flooding and droughts.
In his 2006 report Lord Stern suggested that it would cost the world between 1-2 per cent of GDP to tackle climate change. But he said rich countries should be prepared to spend more than that.
He admitted this could mean “carbon taxes” on polluting goods and services such as long haul flights, dirty factories and carbon intensive goods such as fruits and vegetables from abroad.
“We may have to work on new sources of finance, on the use of auction revenues, on taxation of aviation and maritime, on revenues from carbon taxes. We have to work out the best way of generating new revenues to cover those kinds of support we should be looking for,” he said.
Lord Stern, who is now chairman of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change, said world leaders at Copenhagen must agree to cut emissions while also providing a “global” fund to help poor countries of at least £30 billion per annum by 2015 and rising to £120 billion during the 2020s.
“An agreement now lies in the hands of world leaders who can make decisions across a full range of political issues that relate to climate change. They must demonstrate determination and vision. We must have an agreement that will ensure future generations can enjoy the opportunities for sustainable growth that are offered by the low carbon economy, and that are free from the severe risks that would arise from unchecked climate change. We cannot afford the cost of failure on climate change,” he said.
By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Imagine a trash can that actually sorts your recyclables for you–and then tells you how much money your garbage is worth. Currently being developed at Georgia Tech, Smart Trash receptacles are being touted as an ecologically sound method of waste disposal that’s easy and rewarding to use.
Trash receptacles equipped with scanners that read bar codes and other product tags would record much of what is thrown away, along with the items’ potential re-sale value. They would then relay that information to recycling centers via WiFi. Recycling centers would set aside anything hazardous or toxic for treatment, storage, and safe disposal. Anything of value would be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the consumer, who would have the option of receiving cash back or applying the earnings to next month’s sanitation bill.
The cash incentive and user-friendliness of Smart Trash technology is intended to encourage more consumers to recycle and also enable them to easily recycle many more items than the current system allows, such as consumer electronics, for example. Developers are betting that the benefits for consumers (not to mention the environment) will outweigh any embarrassment of leaving yet one more digital trail behind.
Source: Georgia Institute of Technology, www.gatech.edu.
Buy where you live.
Companies are turning green like never before – and we’re not talking money. Green business is now viewed as being cutting edge, environmentally-friendly, and an asset to future growth, all at once. And now is a great time to get involved. Small changes can have a big impact, so don’t think you need to have millions or even thousands dedicated to make a difference. As you’ll see, it’s all about creativity and personalizing solutions based on your specific industry. Read on for inspiration on ways that your company can turn over a new leaf, so to speak.
Green Buildings
Major corporations are playing it green from the ground up. For example, JPMorgan Chase uses the roof of its 53 story headquarters to collect rainwater which is filtered and then used for toilet flushing. Even more impressive, Bank of America recently announced that its new building will employ a heat exchange system that will gather heat from groundwater and use it to help heat the building in the winter. In the summer, the system will force the heat beneath the building. This, in addition to other green advancements will contribute to the large building only using half the electricity normally needed to power a building its size.
Green Machines
Dyson has created a new hand dryer that uses half the energy of a standard hand dryer unit. Best of all, it does it in half the time and pays for itself in a few years. And technology developed by Microsoft called EcoDrive will record car performance information using a USB key. Simply plug the USB into a computer for tips on how to lower emissions among other helpful details.
Green Transportation
Sometimes the best way to cut down on CO2 emissions is to avoid driving altogether. High gas prices, coupled with environmentally-friendly motivations have resulted in many companies allowing their employees to work from home. In fact, 56% of Sun Microsystems’s
workforce is made up of virtual commuters. Another popular alternative for companies is to provide incentives (in some cases, up to $5000) for purchasing hybrid vehicles.
Green Packaging
Refining packaging decisions not only eliminates excess materials and waste, it can also have an impact on your bottom line. Concentrated liquids, more efficient packaging, and using environmentally-friendly materials – many companies are stepping up the green-packaging plate. Smaller packaging also means less delivery trucks on the road – and lower CO2 emissions. Talk about a win-win.
Laura Watkins
Laura Watkins
Going green is not going away, but the various trends within the green business movement will change direction, creating opportunities for new products and new businesses. Looking forward, here are five green trends that entrepreneurs can capitalize on to make money while making a difference.
Green Car Dealership
The Market Need: More efficient cars are in high demand
The Mission: Sell fuel-efficient cars that pollute less
Knowledge to Start: Autos, sales
Capital Required: $10,000 (for an alternative model) to $1,000,000-plus (cars on a lot)
Timing to Start: Months to years
Special Challenges: Many new, competing technologies are coming to the market
The Prius is only the start. A variety of green cars are coming to the market from different manufacturers, large and small. While sales of cars overall will not grow quickly in a mature market like the United States, sales of green cars are rising as rapidly as the price of oil.
Who is going to sell all these green cars? One option is to work with the big, established auto manufacturers, but there already are many dealerships, and as a dealer you sell a full range of cars–not just green cars. An alternative is to work with the smaller, upstart, green auto producers. As the technology continues to improve, more and more cars will become available to fit a range of needs and markets.
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Some car brokers deal in used cars one at a time, building deals between private buyers and sellers, as well as helping with financing, if necessary. An online green-car dealership provides access to a variety of cars, while avoiding the investment and risk of a car lot with brick, mortar, and asphalt.
Opportunities in green cars include:
* Opening a dealership for one of the emerging new producers in technologies such as electric cars
* Opening a used-car dealership specializing in high-mileage cars
* Commercializing a new car technology
* Brokering sales of green cars between individual buyers and sellers
Low-Carbon Groceries
The Market Need: Consumers are starting to think about the impact of their food and groceries on the environment, but have scant information to guide their shopping
The Mission: Build and provide systems for tracking food’s journey and its carbon footprint
Knowledge to Start: Carbon auditing, supply chains, marketing
Capital Required: $10,000 to $99,000
Timing to Start: Years
Special Challenges: Carbon labeling is not yet broadly adopted
When it comes to being green, food is so simple and yet so complicated. How green is your food? The answer depends on what green means to you. Does green food have to be grown using organic methods? What about the impact of our food on climate change? The greenest food includes consideration of how it is grown, and the environmental impact of its journey to the local market and your plate.
To make smart, green shopping decisions, consumers need information right on the label. Already in the United Kingdom, products are starting to have transportation labeling, with a picture of a plane or a boat. The trend is likely to spread to the United States and improve by labeling products with their actual carbon footprint.
Opportunities for low-carbon groceries include:
* Creating low-carbon products and brands
* Providing tracking and auditing of carbon footprint for products
* Importing products with a smaller carbon footprint, even after accounting for transportation
* Looking for low-carbon products being developed in Europe or elsewhere to see what ideas can be imported into the United States
Green Shopping Bags
The Market Need: Billions of plastic shopping bags are thrown away each year
The Mission: Replace disposable plastic shopping bags with renewable, reusable bags
Knowledge to Start: Materials, manufacturing
Capital Required: Under $10,000 (for homemade bags)
Timing to Start: Weeks to months
Special Challenges: Finding a niche among competition
Consumers and governments are driving a rapidly growing movement away from disposable plastic bags to more eco-friendly alternatives. Reusable bags that don’t get thrown away probably are the greenest option for shopping bags. If you already own a store, selling bags with your logo on the side might be a savvy green business move, and giving them away might even pay off. With that bag, you buy increased brand recognition for your company, you associate your brand with being green, and you may create increased loyalty.
At first, people might worry about how they look carrying their own bags. Cool designer bags will help overcome this concern. One of the neat things about bags is that they are so simple and yet people are endlessly creative with them. The opportunity is to create not just bags, but green fashion statements. Some bags even are made from recycled material, for an extra boost of greenness. Maybe that’s another use for old T-shirts. What if, from the start, green grocery bags were made to be returned in some other form, a cradle-to-cradle shopping bag?
Opportunities for green shopping bags include:
* Producing low-cost compostable shopping bags
* Creating reusable logo bags for stores to give away
* Designing novel bags for shopping
* Developing fold-up bags that are easy to take with you
* Producing homemade bags from recycled material
Environmental Microfinance
The Market Need: Microenterprises in the developing world can have a significant environmental impact
The Mission: Support development of environmentally sound microenterprises
Knowledge to Start: Finance, sustainability
Capital Required: $10,000 to $99,000
Timing to Start: Months to years
Special Challenges: Influencing the direction of large numbers of microenterprises
Surprisingly small amounts of money can make a substantial difference in people’s lives. With loans as small as $100, people in the developing world can start their own business and move out of poverty. By supporting environmentally sound microbusinesses, green microfinance is mobilizing a grassroots green revolution in the developing world while also spurring green business in the developed world.
Microfinance works, and the rate of repayment on microfinance loans is high. Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and its founder Professor Muhammad Yunus received the Nobel Prize in 2006 for work with microfinance, validating that it can change the lives of the entrepreneurial poor.
Opportunities for green microfinance include:
* Forming nonprofit organizations in the developed world that support microfinance efforts
* Consulting and raising money to support the growth of green microfinance institutions in the developing world
* Forming microfinance organizations that support environmentally-sound business practices in the developing world
Green Building Certification
The Market Need: As the number of “green” buildings grows, their true effect on the environment needs to be measured
The Mission: Rate green homes and buildings
Knowledge to Start: LEED professional accreditation, or knowledge of other green rating systems
Capital Required: Under $10,000
Timing to Start: Months to years
Special Challenges: There are still relatively few green buildings, although the number is growing quickly
What makes a building green? Green is a big word these days and sometimes green is in the eye of the beholder. What seems green to one person can appear downright gray to someone else. To ensure buildings are as green as people say they are, independent verification and certification of homes and buildings are needed.
To provide this independent certification green-building groups have developed rating systems. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the leading system for the certification of green buildings in the United States, broadly adopted as the standard by the burgeoning green-building community.
Opportunities in green building certification include:
* Creating a business helping green builders through the LEED certification process
* Developing a business commissioning green buildings
* Training teams to maintain green commercial and industrial buildings
* Performing inspections and creating green reports for homes when they are sold
Glenn Croston
