UN Climate Chief Advocates Solar, Warns On Coal

 

The two-week United Nations Climate Change Conference talks began yesterday in Poznan Poland; a fitting country to hold such talks given Poland's reliance on coal. Poland is said to be  the second most coal-dependent country in the world, producing 93 percent of its electricity from coal reserves according to figures from the World Coal Institute.

Due to its coal addiction, Poland generates nearly double the EU carbon dioxide emissions, the most common greenhouses gas contributing to global warming; however the country has been making serious attempts in recent years to reduce its coal related pollution.

Close to eleven thousand participants, including government delegates from 186 countries, academics, environmental groups and business leaders are attending the Poznan climate conference, part of the negotiations on an international response to climate change post-Kyoto which is due to be finalised in Copenhagen at the end of 2009; taking effect in 2013.

In 2007, Parties agreed to consider a greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 25 - 40% less than 1990 levels, a range which could be confirmed at Poznan. Representatives from Australia are attending the conference, with Climate Change Minister Penny Wong will leading the delegation. Far from being the darling of the last climate talks in Bali when Australia committed to ratifying Kyoto, the Federal Government has reneged on its commitment to present the Poznan meeting with Australia's 2020 emissions reduction target. 

On the opening day of the talks, the U.N.'s climate chief  Yvo de Boer expressed fears of a secondary financial crisis if world governments continue to invest in the construction of high-polluting coal fired electricity generation facilities, which would ultimately need to be decommissioned as the effects of climate change are increasingly felt.

Mr de Boer referred to "bad energy loans" and "cheap and dirty" solutions that could lead to a need to build new low-carbon solar power plants or wind energy farms within the next couple of decades. 

De Boer believes the current financial crisis is actually an opportunity for redesigning the world's economy around green growth and renewable energy alternatives.

Solar powered walking house

 

This house takes the concept of a solar powered home to a whole new level.

Growing out of a project initiated by Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridgeshire in the UK and constructed by German based N55, Walking House does just what its name implies - it walks; courtesy of solar power.

The house gets around through the use of hydraulic legs, powered by solar panels and deep cycle batteries mounted on the roof; essentially a mobile off grid solar power system. The basic module has a height and width of 3.5 meters, a length of 3.7 meters and weighs around 1.2 tonnes. Each unit is equipped for a maximum of four persons, but modules can be grouped together to cater to families or entire communities, creating what the team calls a "Walking Village".

Walking House is designed to allow people to live nomadic life with minimal impact on the environment; reminiscent of the Romani, also commonly known as Gypsy, lifestyle. It is not dependent on roads and can move on all sorts of terrain.

The house harvests energy for use within the home from solar panels and small wind turbines. There's even a rain harvesting system and solar hot water service. Additionally, a small greenhouse can be added to the basic module to allow for the growing of food. Waste is no problem either as Walking House includes a composting toilet.

The concept is designed for those who want to see the countryside - albeit at a slow pace; around 60 meters an hour. The Walking House project also challenges the concept that ownership of land is acceptable; with its makers stating " if we claim the ownership of land, we also say that we have more right to parts of the surface of the earth than other persons have."

At this point in time, the Walking House is just a working concept and art project and is not commercially available.;

News for Monday 01 December, 2008

 

• UK And Australia Progress On Feed In Tariffs
  


• Polymer Solar Cell Breakthrough
  

View all news for Monday 01 December, 2008 on one page

Recent News

 

• Friday 28 November, 2008
  


• Thursday 27 November, 2008
  


• Wednesday 26 November, 2008
  


• Tuesday 25 November, 2008
  


• Monday 24 November, 2008
  

News archive