While not everyone can become a full-time climate activist, it is still possible to contribute to the battle against global warming. Researchers from Arizona State University have created an online computer game called Ventus that serves as a repository that maps the world’s CO2 emissions from power plants. Led by Kevin Gurney, the program allows those living near generation sites to enter the name and location of the facilities along with how much and what type of fuel is used, the amount of electricity generated, and overall CO2 released into the atmosphere.

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Post tags: Arizona State University, china, CO2, computer game, crowdsourcing, data, emissions, fossil fuels, global warming, google earth, India, kevin gurney, michael m. crow, power plants, ventus

Why use a light bulb to illuminate your home when you could just fill it with glowing plants? That’s the question asked by Antony Evans, the head of a team of bio-engineers in San Francisco, California. The team has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a project that will use the glowing genes from fireflies and bacteria to create plants that shine. By using synthetic biology and Genome Compiler software, the have already managed to modify Arabidopsis plants, and they’re working on glowing roses.

Read the rest of Glowing Plant Project Creates Bioluminescent Plants for Natural Lighting

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Post tags: antony eveans, arabidopsis, bioengineer, California, CO2, gene, genome compiler, glowing plant, kickstarter, luciferase, rose, San Francisco, seeds

In March, the State Department issued a controversial analysis of the Keystone XL Pipeline that stated the project would have no significant impact on the environment. Needless to say, this raised the hackles of many concerned citizens and environmental groups. The US Environmental Protection Agency also took issue with the assessment, and this week released a document criticizing the State Department’s report. In a letter, the agency remarked that there was not enough evidence to give credence to the State Department’s conclusions concerning safety, emissions, and alternative routes. The formal objections could complicate the approval of the $7 billion project.

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Post tags: Alberta, arkansas, assessment, canada, CO2, environmental protection agency, global warming, gulf of mexico, kalamazoo river, Keystone XL Pipeline, mayflower, Michigan, oil, president obama, spill, state department, tar sands

When you think of bacteria, the last word that might come to mind is “clean.” However, researchers at the University of East Anglia have made a breakthrough in battery technology that will allow microbes to generate clean electricity. Their work was published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), and it shows that the surface of the organisms can produce an electric current when touching a mineral surface. When lying directly on a mineral or metal surface, the bacteria can be “tethered” to electrodes, bringing the scientists one step closer to developing a battery powered by living creatures.

Read the rest of Researchers Harness Bacteria to Make Clean ‘Bio-Batteries’

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Post tags: "Carbon Cycle", "clean energy", bacteria, bio battery, CO2, dr tom clarke, Electricity, electrodes, Iron, Metal, microbe, mineral, pacific northwest national laboratory, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, proteins, shewanella oneidensis, university of east anglia

A new report by the National Research Council has some good news for the future of US transportation. By taking advantage of biofuels, new vehicle technology, and policy reform, America has the potential to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions up to 80% by 2050. The numbers apply to cars and small trucks, both of which are expected to become more efficient in both fuel economy and design in the coming years.

Read the rest of Report Says US Petroleum Consumption and Greenhouse Gases From Cars Could Plummet by 2050

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Post tags: alternative vehicles, biofuel, CO2, cost effective, douglas m. chapin, emissions, fossil fuel, greenhouse gas, hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell, infrastructure, lignocellulosic biofuel, mpr associates, national research council, natural gas, petroleum, Policy

In the crusade to cut global CO2 emissions, we tend look to power plants, cars, and manufacturing. Nowadays, our building materials are also garnering attention, and researchers from Kansas State University have developed a type of concrete made from biofuel waste that has a lower carbon footprint than conventional concrete. The world uses about 7 billion cubic meters of the mixture each year, making it the most utilized industrial material after water. Taking advantage of the byproducts from biofuel production such as corn stover, wheat straw, and rice straw, the team was able to create a stronger concrete and save excess material from ending up in the landfill.

Read the rest of Concrete Made with Biofuel Waste is Strong, Durable, and Has a Lower Carbon Footprint

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Post tags: 2013 capitol graduate research summit, biofuel, byproduct, carbon dioxide, cellulosic enthanol, cement, CO2, concrete, corn ethanol, emissions, ETHANOL, feraidon ataie, global warming, greenhouse gas, high-lignin ash, kansas state university, national science foundation, Topeka, Waste, water issues

Japan is faced with a number of challenges when it comes to domestic energy production – the country is the world’s largest importer of natural gas, and since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown it has greatly increased its purchase of fossil fuels. In order to find a local energy source, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has invested millions of dollars towards exploiting methane hydrate (also known as “flammable ice”) – and today they announced that they’ve successfully extracted it from the seabed for the first time. Methane is known to be an extremely potent greenhouse gas that is 20 times more damaging than CO2. If Japan taps reserves beneath the seabed, it could have catastrophic consequences for the environment.

Read the rest of Japan Successfully Taps ‘Flammable Ice’ as an Energy Source for the First Time

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Post tags: atsumi peninsula, canada, chikyu, china, Climate Change, CO2, drilling, flammable ice, fukushima daiichi, global warming, greenhouse gas, ice, Japan, methane, Methane Hydrate, north carolina, norway, ocean, seabed, south carolina

When it comes to tackling the enormous challenge of curbing climate change, we humans may need to look to some very small organisms for help. A study published in the journal Nature Geoscience by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has found large amount of particulate iron runoff from glacial melt in Greenland. The iron could possibly spur the growth of marine algae, which could then in turn absorb C02, one of the major greenhouse gases contributing to global warming.

Read the rest of Algae Growth Resulting from Glacial Melt Could Help Curb Climate Change

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Post tags: algae, atlantic ocean, Climate Change, CO2, glacial melt, global warming, greenhouse gas, greenland, Iron, nature geoscience, nitrates, ocean, phosphates, sea level rise, sequester, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Coral bleaching occurs when sea temperatures rise and kill algae that are the source of color and food for most corals around the globe – and a new study shows that there could be mass bleaching by 2056 if current greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated. Researchers used data from the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to demonstrate that unless significant measures are taken to reduce emissions, annual mass bleaching could occur in 74 percent of coral by 2045. The results of the NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies report were published in the journal Nature Climate Change this week.

Read the rest of New Study Shows Global Coral Bleaching Could Occur by 2056

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Post tags: algae, carbon emissions, climate models, CO2, coral bleaching, coral reef, Environment, environmental destruction, global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, IPCC, mass bleaching events, nature climate change, News, NOAA, science

Researchers led by experts from Oxford University warn that a 1.5C temperature rise would melt Siberia’s permafrost, which would in turn release hundreds of gigatonnes of stored carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. Covering nearly a quarter of the northern hemisphere, this ticking carbon bomb would speed up global warming and cause widespread climate change. However, The Guardian reports, it would likely take a few decades for the permafrost to melt and therefore greenhouse gas emissions would initially trickle into the atmosphere.

Read the rest of A 1.5C Temperature Rise Would Set Off Siberia’s Permafrost Carbon Bomb, Scientists Warn

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Post tags: carbon bomb, carbon emissions, Climate Change, CO2, Environment, global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, methane, News, oxford university, permafrost, research, science, siberia

Despite its high carbon footprint, expense, and negative effects on human health, coal still remains one of the world’s most utilized sources of energy. Since coal is a major contributor to climate change, scientists have long been looking for a way to sequester the CO2 emissions produced by coal plants. Recently researchers from Monash University and CSIRO discovered a new photosensitive metal organic framework (MOF) that could serve as a powerful and cost-effective material capable of capturing and recycling CO2.

Read the rest of New Photosensitive Carbon Sponge Could Soak Up Coal Emissions

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Post tags: angewandte chemie, azobenzene, carbon, carbon dioxide, Climate Change, CO2, CSIRO, global warming, metal-organic framework, mof, monash university, prof matthew hill, sunlight

Roses may be red, but they’re definitely not green according to research from Scientific American. As millions of partners exchange bunches of red roses in the run up to Valentine’s Day, they may want to consider that the traditional flower of love has an environmental impact worse than most other crops. In fact, according to environmental flower site Flowerpetal.com, the 100 million roses grown for a typical Valentine’s Day in the US produce some 9,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

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Post tags: carbon dioxide, carbon footprint, carbon impact roses, CO2, crops, environmental impact, environmental impact roses, flowers, red roses, roses, valentine's day

Bring on the four day work week. New research shows that working fewer hours and enjoying more downtime could forestall climate change. The Center for Economic Policy and Research claims that if the developing world eschews the American working model (long hours and very little vacation time) in favor of the European model, which advocates more reasonable work hours and plenty of time for leisure and holidays, the output of greenhouse gas emissions would slow and subsequent temperature rise could be cut in half by 2100.

Read the rest of Working Less and Playing More Could Slow Down Climate Change, New Study Shows

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Post tags: carbon dioxide, Climate Change, CO2, CO2 emissions, Environment, four hour work week, global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, News, slow global warming, The Center for Economic Policy and Research, work less

When it comes to transforming the sun’s energy into commuter miles, it looks like photovoltaics beat out our best biofuels. A recent study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology investigated the relative efficiencies of the two technologies by focusing on traditional methods of turning corn and other plants into ethanol, turning energy crops into electricity, and using photovoltaics to directly convert sunlight into fuel. The team found that PV’s were far more efficient at creating “sun-to-wheels” energy for vehicles.

Read the rest of Study Shows Photovoltaics Beat Biofuels at Converting Solar Energy Into Miles Driven

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Post tags: biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, CO2, corn, david stoms, electric vehicle, environmental science & technology, ev, ghg, greenhouse gas emission, james kallao, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, photosynthesis, pv, roland geyer, solar, uc santa barbara, US

Do you feel a twinge of guilt every time you fill your tank with dirty gasoline? What if you could power your car with a carbon neutral fossil fuel substitute? Introducing Audi’s new e-fuel, an energy source that powers a standard engine like gas or diesel, but uses CO2 instead of dead dinosaurs and petrified algae. Seeing as most electric cars have a somewhat limited range, long charging time, and small nationwide re-fueling infrastructure, most believe that a majority of drivers will be riding around with an internal combustion engine for the next couple decades. The e-fuel has the benefit of already being able to take advantage of gas stations as well as the landfills and non-potable water sources it needs to create the compound. Here is how it works:

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Post tags: a3 tcng, AUDI, car, carbon-neutral, CO2, e-diesel, e-ethanol, e-fuel, e-gas, emissions, fossil fuels, gasoline, germany, global climate change, greenhouse gas, hydrogen, internal combustion engine, joule, methane, microbes, New Mexico, oil

Vertical gardens and green walls are beautiful and environmentally friendly means of adding a little life to architecture – but until now, most required structural foundations to help attach the plants and soil to the building. Now, a group of researchers led by Antonio Aguado, Ignacio Segura, and Sandra Manso at the Structural Technology Group of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya has developed a new multilayer concrete that is able to support plant life. Both a medium for growth and a construction material, the system allows for thermal regulation and CO2 sequestration.

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Post tags: "green wall", antionio aguado, barcelona tech, belgium, CO2, ignacio segura, mediterranean, sandra manso, Spain, structural technology group, universitat politecnica de catalunya, university of ghent, vertical garden

Instead of chopping down a stately conifer this holiday season, give the gift of a real live tree from the Million Trees Project! By designing your own tree online for the price of a cup of coffee, the Project will plant a tree where it is needed the most. The Project is currently working together with American Forests, and will soon be teaming up with WWF to green the globe.

Read the rest of The Million Trees Project Lets You Design and Plant a Tree From the Comfort of Your Computer

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Post tags: american forests, CO2, million trees project, reforest, replanting, Trees, wwf

Anyone who has stood next to a train pulling into a station can attest to the immense power it produces as it rattles along the rails. Scientists at Stony Brook University recently won a national award their mechanical motion rectifier (MMR)-based Railroad Energy Harvester – an invention that harvests electricity from the vibrations produced by railroad trains. The invention has the potential to save millions in railroad energy costs while reducing carbon emissions.

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Post tags: ac, CO2, dc, electric truck, energy harvesting and storage usa 2012, lei zuo, LLC/Harvest NRG inc, mechanical motion rectifier, mmr, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), railroad energy harvester, stony brook university, suny research foundation, us department of transporation

First, it was a jarring report by the Renewable Energy Industry Institute. Then, a paper and call to action by the World Bank. Now, the World Meteorological Association (WMO) has released their own examination of the climate, and things are not looking good. According to their annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin released today, they assert that global CO2 levels are the highest they have ever been in human history, reaching 391 parts per million. Seeing as 350 parts per million is the threshold that many scientists agree should be maintained in order to live on a stable planet, the Organization is one of many that is expressing serious concerns.

Read the rest of World Meteorological Organization Reports Greenhouse Gas Emissions at a Record High

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Post tags: carbon dioxide, CO2, global warming, greenhouse gas bulletin, IPCC, kyoto protocol, methane, michel jarraud, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, radiative forcing, renewable energy institute, un intergovernmental panel on climate change, wmo, world bank, world meteorological organization

Last year, global CO2 emissions reached their highest levels in human history. With climate change affecting everything from weather patterns to satellite operation, governments and international organizations are becoming increasingly concerned over man’s influence over the environment. A report released by the World Bank this month titled “Turn Down the Heat” details the devastating impacts of a world in crisis. If current policies and trends continue, the planet could become an average of 4 degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter by the end of the century. This scenario would result in a “new normal” of extreme temperatures, massive flooding, and devastation among the poorest nations.

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Post tags: Climate Change, CO2, coal, developing nations, Doha, global warming, jim yong kim, libya, mediterranean, Middle East, NGO, north america, qatar, russia, South Africa, turn down the heat, un intergovernmental panel on climate change, united states, world bank