Japan 3.11

Part of the newly mainstream "green" movement, or whatever you'd prefer to call it, is looking at energy alternatives such as wind, solar, and hydro power which we've discussed in class, but there's also nuclear power. While there have been substantial doubts around the world about the benefits of nuclear power since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, three years ago another disaster caused many nations to rethink nuclear power as a viable energy source. 

On 3.11.11 Japan was hit with a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Tohoku, followed by the devastating tsunami, which caused level 7 meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. This was a triple disaster, the most powerful known earthquake to hit Japan ever. Thousands of lives were lost, displaced, or went missing.

While the global community scrambled to provide relief and support, Fukushima also forced many nations to realize that despite advancements in technology, nuclear power was still not to be taken lightly. In the U.S. particularly, Fukushima spurred the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to re-assess safety planning and requirements for plants. Exelon, the largest nuclear-reactor operator in the U.S., decided to spend up to $500 million upgrading its plants based on lessons learned.

I wanted to write about the anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami but I don't really know why, or rather how to put it. Growing up I spent a substantial amount of time in Taiwan, another island country in the Pacific Rim with a strong Japanese influence-- it used to be a Japanese colony. My connection to Japan isn't strong on paper, but somehow I've always felt connected. 

As we move forward, let us hope that it doesn't take another disaster to wake the world up.

Resources
Fukushima, 3 Years Later: Disaster Still Lingers - Mashable

Ecological Footprint: End of the Quarter

What are my results at the end of this quarter?

My new ecological footprint is 3.66 Earths vs 5.74 from before. 

Does this accurately reflect my efforts? 

Rather than saying this reflects my efforts, I think it just reflects my knowledge gain. This time I understood better what I was (or wasn't) checking off in the quiz and it also helped me come up with some more accurate figures. Since I am graduating at the end of this year, I'm also unsure if I'll be able to continue the same practices that I set during this quarter, since my housing situation will most likely be changing. In other words, the goals I set were applicable to my current lifestyle but they might not necessarily be applicable to my next. I would like to take the new insights that I have gained wherever I go.

Walmart Releases Guide for its New Sustainability Policy

Walmart recently released its Implementation Guide for its Sustainable Chemistry Policy and its available online to view. The guide is intended to for Walmart's suppliers, to help meet Walmart's overall sustainability goals it announced last September. There's actually a lot of information on sustainability hub to sift through, but here are some key takeaways. Suppliers will be required to:

• Disclose full product formulations to The Wercs, a partner, through WERCSmart.
• Disclose all product ingredients online by product beginning January 2015.
• Disclose all priority chemicals on pack beginning January 2018.
• Complete a sustainability report describing a supplier’s performance on chemical disclosure, risk assessment, and hazard avoidance
• Reduce, restrict, and eliminate the use of "Walmart High Priority Chemicals" of which there are approximately ten.

In other words, more transparency, safer products and redesign.

One thing to note is that Walmart hasn't actually revealed what their high priority chemicals are. It clearly states on their policy page that these chemicals were determined by the company, and have yet to be made public. So much for transparency.

Other Resources

Wal-Mart Releases Guidance for Suppliers on its New Sustainability Policy - American Coatings Assocation

EPA Honors Corporations for Cutting Greenhouse Gases

The EPA recently honored fifteen different organizations for their leadership in protecting the climate at the 2014 Climate Leadership Conference in San Diego.

Nineteen awards were given out for Organizational Leadership, Individual Leadership, Supply Chain Leadership, Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management for Goal Achievement and for Goal Setting. To see the full list of winners, click here.

It's interesting to see the diversity between award recipients. Most are companies, one is a city and one a university.

Other Resouces

U.S. EPA Honors Corporations for Cutting Greenhouse Gases

Google Launches Global Forest Watch

Google has perhaps answered the age-old question: if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
Okay maybe not, but you can at least watch it now thanks to Global Forest Watch. From the website's "About" section, GFW is "a dynamic online forest monitoring and alert system that empowers people everywhere to better managa forests." The website allows you to monitor logging and burning of the world's forests using satellite images, open data, and crowdsourcing. It's like a near real-time security camera for tree murders!
The site just launched on February 20th and is in a beta version. It's not a solo effort by Google but in fact was convened by the World Resources Institute.

Update on the Drought Emergency in California

In an effort to relieve the drought emergency in California, state officials announced yesterday new legislation that would "provide $687.4 million to help communities deal with the devastating dry conditions and fund increases to local water supplies" (ENS). Where exactly would this money be coming from?

• The accelerated expenditure of voter-approved grants for local and regional projects that are already planned or partly completed (that have to do withstormwater, recycled water, groundwater storage and water conservation)
• Transferred out of the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
• The General Fund

I'm sure if the Pacific Northwest could, we'd send some rain clouds over to California right now. Or maybe we wouldn't cause we seem really friendly in Seattle but actually we're kind of cold and constantly guarded. (If you don't know what I'm referring to, you can read about it here.)

Resources

California Lawmakers Offer $687 Million Drought Relief Bill - Environmental News Service

US and France Cooperate on Global Climate Change Pact

President Obama and French President Francois Hollande agreed to expand on their work to curb global climate change, ahead of the upcoming United Nations climate summit next year in Paris. The UN is expected to create a global binding agreement to take effect in 2020. 

Why are these two leaders urging other nations to get on board before the summit? 
It would appear that both leaders mean serious business, so they want to make sure everyone else means serious business when the summit arrives. 

In all seriousness, during his State Visit to the US, Hollande said, “How not to mention climate change when France next year will convene and host a conference? It’s not just about hosting a conference and having our hotels full. No, it’s about reaching a global goal, because there is a danger.”

Resources 
Hollande and Obama Push For Global Climate Change Pact - TIME World

Obama, Hollande Cooperate on 2015 Global Climate Change Pact - Environment News Service