Flying thin is better for the environment

The New York Times reports on the problem of obese airline passengers.

This is always a delicate issue, but something that is a reality in the flights of today. Being thin, a healthy eater, and exerciser should be rewarded on a flight rather than having to be wedged next to someone who is fat and spilling over into your seat. Maybe airlines should also discount tickets for thin passengers as well as charge more for obese ones.

Although the article itself doesn't mention this, one of the comments says that overweight people use more fuel thereby being more responsible for greenhouse gas warming emissions. Thin people who fly are better for the environment.

Read the full story: Excuse me, is this seat taken?

Illustration by Leif Parsons

Airlines to be carbon neutral by 2020?

Reuters reports that the world's airlines have committed to be carbon-neutral by 2020.

The head of the International Airline Transport Association gave this news at their annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today.

Giovanni Bisignani said wide cooperation was needed from allied industries and governments. "Air navigation service providers must make it possible to fly even more effectively. Fuel companies must supply eco-friendly fuels and governments must give us access to credits in global carbon markets."

Aviation is responsible for about 2 percent of global greenhouse gas pollution and that share is expected to rise.

Read the full story: Airlines to achieve CO2 neutral-growth by 2020: IATA

Emirates Air longest "green" flight

Gulf News reports on Emirates Air newest and longest nonstop "green" trip from Dubai to San Francisco.

The airline will launch their new service Monday December 15th that will utilize new technology and follow new flight paths to save fuel and therefore release less greenhouse gases during flight.

"The flight has been described as 'the most environmentally-sophisticated route and trip possible to help save an estimated 2,000 gallons of fuel and 30,000 pounds of carbon emissions on the 16-hour non-stop service.'"

Emirates also will recycle all on board paper, plastics, aluminum, and glass.

Read the full story: Emirates plans longest 'green flight' from Dubai to San Francisco

Canada's boreal forest fate in government's hands

Reuters reports that Canadian politicians are saving the boreal forest on advice from environmental experts.

Only 10 percent of the forest is protected now and deforestation is a big concern. The forest covers 1.4 billion hectares (see picture above) and is "better than almost anywhere else on the planet at keeping climate-warming carbon out of the atmosphere."

The plan to preserve the boreal forest picked up momentum last year when 1,500
scientists from more than 50 countries called for its protection.

In July, the government of Ontario agreed to strictly protect half of its boreal lands and to sustainably manage the other half, with no extraction of minerals or other natural resources allowed.

Last week, Quebec Premier Jean Charest, now campaigning for re-election, pledged to do the same if he wins. Canadian businesses also have endorsed the plan, and Kallick said there is a good chance most provincial governments will as well.

Read the full story: Politicians persuaded to save Canada boreal forest

Funds infusion for electric-car company

The Christian Science Monitor's Horizons blog writes about the funding infusion of $40 million into the Tesla electric-car company.

Tesla didn't disclose the investors but hope the money will keep their eco-friendly cars in business.

"The new funding will accelerate production of the Roadster (pictured above), a sporty all-electric and heart-throb for alt-energy proponents. While there’s huge interest in the $109,000 car, Tesla has only been able to deliver on about 50 of the 1,200 orders."

Read the full story: Tesla hopes its cars can electrify industry

China's pollution rate to double by 2030, cites study

Environmental News Network reports on the study showing the doubling of Chinese greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The study conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences shows that without serious curbs on the billions of tons of carbon dioxide China emits each year, the nation could match the amount the United States emits by 2020.

In 2007, the United States was still the world's number one emitter of greenhouse gases at 7.2 billion tons, compared to China's 5.1 billion tons.

Read the full story: China warns of huge rise in emissions

Throw a 'roo on the barbie

Environmental News Network reports on the Australian study that shows eating kangaroo instead of beef and mutton is a more sustainable option.

Cattle and sheep farming degrades land, has contributed to native species extinction, and also emits large amounts of the greenhouse gas methane. Kangaroos, which historically have been eaten by humans for "around 60,000 years," emit acetate rather than methane.

"In economic modelling conducted by Wilson and Edwards, cattle and sheep for meat could be dramatically reduced in Australia's rangelands by 2020, with cattle dropping from 7.5 million to 500,000 and sheep from 38.7 million to 2.7 million.

The scientists conclude that this would allow for a net carbon saving of 16 megatonnes of GhG emissions by 2020, around 28 percent of Australia's agricultural emissions. "

Read the full story: Eat kangaroos to save climate?

Global warming's effects

Earth First has a poignant article detailing seven areas of the world that are being directly and direly affected by global warming.

As the global temperature increases, so does the severity of natural phenomena such as major storms like hurricanes and cyclones, insects are able to survive and prosper in climes that used to be too cold for them, and melting glaciers cause oceans to rise and create severe flooding.

Airline and car travel create greenhouse gas emissions that contribute greatly to the man-made problem of global warming.

Read the full story: 7 places global warming is smacking the crap out of the Earth right now

Offsets don't always erase carbon footprint

Reuters reports that people may be "fooling themselves" when they offset their air carbon footprint.

Critics of carbon offsetting claim that it is difficult to fully offset ones carbon footprint because different airplanes put out different amounts of carbon dioxide, the global warming greenhouse gas.

"Carbon offsetting has also had to contend with critics who say that it only creates an illusion of fighting climate change, focusing on marginal efforts such as planting trees or building wind turbines rather than tackling the underlying problem, for example by flying less or burning less coal."

A poll about the meaning of carbon offsetting by travel website Expedia found that only one third knew what it meant. One in ten thought carbon offsetting "meant to walk to work instead of driving."

Read the full story: Critics say air travel carbon offsetting too crude

Car to run on air, experts critical

CNN reports on a new eco-car that will use air to get around.

Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) will manufacture the so-called air cars with an estimated release date of 2010. ZPM obtained the license to produce these vehicles from MDI, the European developers of the air car technology.

The car will use compressed air to power the engine, said the company, which is similar to train steam-engine technology. But the engine will be a dual energy type so it will also run using fuel:

"'Above 35 mph, there is an external combustion system which is basically a heater that uses a little bit of gasoline or biofuel or ethanol or vegetable oil that will heat the air,' said Shiva Vencat, vice president of MDI and CEO of Zero Pollution Motors."

Some experts claim the energy used to compress the air would make the car about as efficient as an electric vehicle.

Read the full story: 106 mpg 'air car' creates buzz, questions

This week's most un-eco trip goes to Barack Obama

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama went on a trip to the Middle East and Europe this past week.

He traveled thousands of miles on his plane and used up many road miles in private vehicles with security and local police escorts. The amount of carbon emissions spewed out are too many to count.

Senator Obama claims he is for the environment and even has a section on his own website touting all the energy and environmental things he wants to achieve including: reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Mr. Obama needs to take some of his own advice because as we all know airplane travel releases large amounts of greenhouse gases.

The trip was for the purpose of media coverage to show voters that he could be adept at international affairs, an area that he is admittedly lacking in. But the trip was so whirlwind, Obama also admitted that it could be of little political benefit since most Americans are focused more on domestic issues than international ones.

So if the trip was for nothing, then at least Mr. Obama can know that he helped add to the demise of the environment for no good reason except for his own vanity.

At least The New York Times today criticized the trip and questioned if the Senator's motivations of looking presidential were presumptuous and arrogant. We at Ecotravel News answer that with a strong "Yes."

For more on Obama's eco-hypocriticism check out this archived post where he's accepting non-biodegradable plastic bags.

Pope urges lifestyle changes to help environment... from his plane

Australia's The Sydney Morning Herald reports on Pope Benedict XVI's visit and urgent message to Australians (that he delivered from his plane before he landed) to save the environment by changing ones lifestyle.

This is just another ironic event (because as we all know that airplanes emit high amounts of carbon that is causing the climate to change) in the Pontiff's tenure.

Ecotravel News has previously pointed out that the Vatican has started their own airline and also have more honorably gone carbon-neutral.

The catholic leader has good intentions but he needs to start following his own advice too, even though the SMH does point out that Australia is becoming less energy-efficient.

Read the full story: Help to save the world, Pope tells Australia
and the sister story of: Nation of climate sinners

Low-cost Euro airlines + more flyers = carbon upsurge

The New York Times reports on how the popularity of low-cost European airlines has upped air travel across the continent and thus also the rise in carbon emissions.

Warm countries such as Spain are seeing the increase in weekend tourists from colder climes such as the U.K. and Germany, which although good for the tourist industry, just adds to the global warming conundrum.

The competitiveness of the budget airlines keeps the prices low as well as being much cheaper and faster than car or train travel:

"[For] many, the economics of flying cheap are proving more compelling than the environmental consequences. With prices for gas and hotels at all-time highs in Britain and Germany, it is, somewhat bizarrely, more economical to fly to Spain, even for a weekend, than to take a traditional driving vacation near home."

Read the full story: Air travel and carbon on increase in Europe

Asia and global warming

China and India are both high-population and fast-emerging economies that are also altering their climates drastically by emitting some of the highest amounts of carbon dioxide worldwide.

The Economist reports how the effect of these greenhouse gases is changing the climate, melting the Himalayan glaciers and shifting weather patterns - all things that are affecting the health and livelihoods of their citizens. Both countries are realizing their contributions to the problem and are beginning to work on solutions.

Read the full story: Melting Asia

Nissan to build electric cars

National Public Radio reports that Nissan will mass produce an electric car by 2010.

This is according to Nissan a strategy to become a leader in zero-emission vehicles:

"Nissan has not announced a specific model that will be mass produced. But in March, at the New York International Auto Show, the automaker unveiled an electric-powered concept car, the Denki Cube [pictured above], which runs on lithium-ion batteries."

Read or listen to the full story: Nissan builds buzz with plans for electric car

More planes = less global warming?

USA Today reports that greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes have actually gone down since 2000; even though there are more planes in the air.

The Environmental Protection Agency report measured the polluting gas from planes and vehicles between 2000-2006. It found that airplane emissions fell by 13 percent while vehicle emissions rose six percent:

"Airlines cut fuel consumption from a record 20.4 billion gallons in 2000 to 19.6 billion in 2006, Department of Transportation figures show. In that period, their planes flew 18% more miles on domestic and international routes. That marks the first extended period in which airlines have cut fuel use while flying more miles, DOT data show."

Read the full story: Planes fly more, emit less greenhouse gas

Amazon die-off due to cleaner skies?

Is the above picture what the Amazon needs to stay healthy?

Yes according to Reuters who highlighted an interesting conundrum between the reduction of coal emissions leading to drought in the Amazon rain forest:

"The study in the journal Nature identified a link between reduced sulphur dioxide emissions from coal burning and increased sea surface temperatures in the tropical North Atlantic that boosts the drought risk in the Amazon rain forest.

With the rain forest already threatened by development, higher global temperatures could tip the balance, they said."

Read the full story: Clean air could kill the Amazon

Artic ice melting fast, near tipping point?

Environmental News Network reports on a study showing evidence of greater Arctic ice melt than previously anticipated.

The report released by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), called the Arctic Climate Impact, shows vast climate change in all arctic systems that is already altering ecosystems and affecting the people and animals living there.

The scientists behind the report are alarmed to the point of discussing whether the Arctic is near the so-called tipping point where nothing can be done to reverse the damage.

The reduction of greenhouse gases worldwide is what will help reduce the melt.

Read the full story: Climate change hitting Arctic faster, harder

Sting and wife eco-hypocrites

Britain's tabloid Daily Mail reports on the apparent eco-contradictions of musician Sting and wife Trudie Styler. It would be one thing if the couple weren't so in-your-face about their do-goodiness, but these two are always leading the pack on eco-high-holiness.


In this ad for an organic yogurt, Styler lends her face and the words:

"I'm committed to protecting the rainforest and the people who live there..."

But according to the DM report they travel extensively by private jets and a "fleet of cars" between their - count 'em - seven homes. Their carbon footprint has even been estimated to be 30-times the average Briton's.

Their so-called environmental commitment sounds like robbing someone of $100 and giving them back $5...

Sting even admits to having "a huge carbon footprint."

An eco-hypocrite by any other name would smell just like - well - Harrison Ford.

Read the full story: 'It's true - we're hypocrites...'

Houston tops U.S. air pollution emission study

Reuters via the Environmental News Network unveiled the findings of a carbon dioxide emission study and named the top 20 worst offending U.S. cities.

Unsurprisingly cities with major traffic and/or oil business were the largest offenders.

The Vulcan report, funded by NASA and the Department of Energy (DOE), named the Houston area number one with CO2 emission at 18.6 million tons and Los Angeles area a close second with 18.59.

Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit complete the top 5.

Read the full story: Houston, LA named top CO2 polluters