CLIMATE CHANGE: ADAPTING TO THE INEVITABLE?

Posted on | March 8, 2009 | Comments Off

Dr Colin Brown, of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said: “Climate change shows there will be significant increases in storms as global temperatures rise. These will produce much more intense gales and hurricanes and these, in turn, will produce massive storm surges as they pass over the sea.”

In a report published last month, the IMechE warned that the country will face massive disruption to its transport and energy systems. Many rail lines run along valleys which will be flooded.

The IMechE has warned that many areas of the country may have to be abandoned because they are too expensive to protect.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ latest environment theme report is Climate Change: Adapting to the Inevitable? It considers the possible climate changes which we may expect over the next 1,000 years due to continuing CO2 emissions, and recommends what engineers need to do to adapt to our future world so that we can cope with these changes.

Man’s activities are causing the world’s climate to change rapidly. Although many nations will be able to cope with the impacts of climate change in the short term, albeit at a cost, long term, it will be a very different story. Global governments will be meeting in November 2009 to agree a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, proposing reducing global carbon dioxide emissions by mitigation.

However, as global emissions are not reducing and the climate is changing, the more pragmatic approach, as suggested by the Institution, is that only by adapting our behaviour can we hope to secure long-term human survival. We have to look at how engineers might help our world to adapt to changes over the next few centuries.

The effects of temperature increase – the heart of climate change – will be felt globally. For developed countries, such as the UK, flooding and rising sea levels will be a massive problem – a 7m rise in sea levels would mean the abandonment of most parts of London which border the Thames ie Canary Wharf, Chelsea and Westminster. For developing countries such as Botswana there would be extreme social and economic issues.

Four areas of engineering are considered under the above climate scenarios: energy, water, buildings, and transport, and how they will need to be adapted to deliver a more resilient and robust adaptive management system.

What needs to happen?
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers therefore recommends the following:

Rising sea levels and increased flooding will require serious consideration of the viability of settlements, transport routes and infrastructure
To protect the welfare of its citizens governments must support climate adaptation
More research, development and investment in renewable energy sources is required to offset the loss of fossil fuels
We have to invest in Carbon Capture and Storage technology
The industrialised world has to take the lead in taking responsibility for the economic needs of vulnerable nations

See Humans At Sea World

Posted on | March 5, 2009 | 2 Comments

Ambler, PA And San Diego, CA — Yesterday, the Wissahickon High School FIRST robotics team traveled to San Diego for a regional competition. Arriving a day early, the team went sight seeing to Sea World. Sure, Sea World is a fun place to go any time. However, it was particularly interesting to watch a bunch of science oriented kids interact in this environment.

Is it ethical to treat animals this way in the name of the ethical treatment of animals? There seemed to be some debate about the captivity of marine animals for the purpose of promoting the well-being of animals. Yes, it is important to educate the population. Yes, it is important to rescue and treat hurt animals… especially animals injured by human activities. There were manatee mauled by boat propellers. There were sea otters recovered from oil spills. On the other hand, seeing whales and dolphins confined appeared hypocritical to some extent.

In any event, it was a healthy debate. In just about all the arguments, the questions were about “how humans behave.” Sure, sharks can be man-eaters. However, there wasn’t anything ethical to debate about a sharks aggression. It was much more about human expression. After all, how can Anheuser / Busch use these animals to advertise beer?

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Largest Renewable Energy Co. On Cap And Trade

Posted on | February 28, 2009 | 1 Comment

JUNO BEACH, Fla. – President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2010 budget projects federal revenue from a cap-and-trade program to address climate change as early as the year 2012. Lew Hay, chairman and CEO of FPL Group, the nation’s No. 1 producer of renewable energy from wind and solar power, issued the following statement today:

“This is an encouraging sign that proves the president is serious about enacting legislation to put a price on carbon dioxide. The president’s statements on climate change are now being backed up with an ambitious timetable for action. The sooner we can establish a price on carbon dioxide, the sooner we can tackle climate change and begin the transition to the clean-energy economy of the 21st century.”

FPL Group: Energy Solutions for the Next Era
FPL Group (NYSE: FPL) is a leading clean energy company with 2008 revenues of more than $16 billion, approximately 39,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and more than 15,000 employees in 27 states and Canada. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Fla., FPL Group’s principal subsidiaries are NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the largest generator in North America of renewable energy from the wind and sun, and Florida Power & Light Company, which serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is one of the largest rate-regulated electric utilities in the country. Through its subsidiaries, FPL Group collectively operates the third largest U.S. nuclear power generation fleet.

Proposed Budget Includes Cap And Trade

Posted on | February 28, 2009 | 1 Comment

The new budget proposed by the President includes a new cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions. Revenues from a national cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions would come from auctions of emissions permits. The program will generate $650 billion between 2012 and 2019.

The President said, “Because our future depends on our ability to break free from oil that’s controlled by foreign dictators, we need to make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. That’s why we’ll be working with Congress on legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy.

And to support this effort, we’ll invest $15 billion a year for 10 years to develop technologies like wind power and solar power, and to build more efficient cars and trucks right here in America. It’s an investment that will put people back to work, make our nation more secure, and help us meet our obligation as good stewards of the Earth we all inhabit.”