Mexico City Reduces GHG Emissions by 5.7 Million Metric Tonnes

MEXICO CITY - Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been reduced by an accumulated 5.7 million metric tonnes (mt) in Mexico City since it began implementing its Green Plan in 2008, the Mexico City government has announced. The reduction represents 82% of Mexico City's overall target of reducing GHG emissions by 7 million mt of CO2eq, which was established by the Green Plan. Marcelo Ebrard, Mayor of Mexico City, said the city will realize the full target of 7 million mt on schedule next year. "Over the past four years, we have made significant progress toward becoming one of the world's most sustainable cities by promoting environmental stewardship not only in our government operations but also by encouraging widespread business and citizen participation," Mayor Ebrard said. Mexico City's Green Plan is one of the most comprehensive in the world. It includes initiatives and investments in transportation, energy and water conservation, solid waste management, air quality, reforestation and climate adaptation. The transport sector, which accounts for 44% of total GHG emissions in Mexico City, was responsible for an accumulated reduction of 4.8 million mt of CO2eq. Mayor Ebrard cited a 350% expansion of the Metrobus system, replacement of 84,000 high-emission microbuses and taxis, development of Zero Emissions Corridors, development of the Ecobibi bicycle sharing network and construction of a new Metro subway line as contributing factors. Martha Delgado, Minister of the Environment, said reforestation efforts and prevention of forest fires contributed to a GHG reduction of 607,846 mt, while improvements in energy conservation contributed 183,425 mt of CO2eq. Separation of organic and non-organic solid waste contributed to a reduction of 127,175 mt of CO2 and methane. In December, Mexico City is scheduled to close Bordo Poniente, one of the world's largest solid waste facilities, which by itself is responsible for 16% of the metropolitan area's GHG emissions. Mayor Ebrard is also serving as chair of the World Mayors Council on Climate. In this capacity, he hosted mayors from around the world last November to sign the Mexico City Pact, a voluntary agreement among cities to cooperate and report their climate efforts. To date, nearly 200 cities around the world have signed the agreement.

Melvin Wylie

Ohio Distributor of Budweiser Charged With Polluting Surface Runoff

Teamsters File Charges against Heidelberg Distributing for Dumping Contaminates into Storm Water Drain DAYTON, Ohio - On July 22, 2011 the Teamsters Local 957 filed a complaint with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency today charging Heidelberg Distributing, an Ohio distributor of Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser, with dumping contaminated water into a storm water drain on the company's property. The complaint was filed after several Budweiser delivery drivers objected to the practice in a questionnaire completed last week regarding problematic business practices at the company. Heidelberg distributes Budweiser, Samuel Adams, and Monster Energy Drink products in Dayton. "We have an obligation to make sure our employers are responsible stewards of the environment and are not engaging in practices that violate environmental regulations," said Varney Richmond, President of Teamsters Local 957. "We believe that corporate citizens such as Anheuser-Busch also have a responsibility to the community to ensure that the companies they hire to distribute their products are not hurting the environment or violating the letter or spirit of state or federal environmental laws."

Melvin Wylie

Guy Harvey Joins Effort to Take Marlin Off the Menu

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL—AUGUST 26, 2011— The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) has joined forces with the International Game Fish Association and the National Coalition for Marine Conservation in support of the Billfish Conservation Act of 2011—essentially taking billfish such as Marlin off the menus in the U.S as a seafood option. It is currently illegal to harvest or import Atlantic-caught billfish into the U.S., however, fish caught in the Pacific Ocean continue to flood into U.S. markets in substantial numbers, threatening the survival of these fisheries. Scientific evidence has shown that the current consumer demand for marlin and other billfish has passed sustainable levels, and worldwide marlin populations are being decimated by commercial overfishing. Marlin, considered to be the pinnacle of offshore gamefishing due to the size, power and relative rareness and vulnerability of the species, has made its way onto dinner plates and seafood markets around the world.  The U.S. is one of the main importers of marlin, which has been designated by Greenpeace International to its seafood Red List—a list sold into markets that have a very high risk of being sourced from unsustainable fisheries. The Billfish Conservation Act of 2011 (S. 1451 and H.R. 2706), introduced into Congress on July 29^th of this year, would close U.S. commercial markets to Pacific billfish, preventing their sale and importation (excluding Hawaii and the Pacific Insular Island Area). For more information on the Billfish Conservation Act of 2011, go to http://www.igfa.org/Conserve/MARLIN-OFF-THE-MENU.aspx About the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation funds inspired scientific research and innovative educational programs to encourage conservation and best management practices for sustainable marine environments. The GHOF will help ensure that future generations will enjoy and benefit from a naturally balanced ocean ecosystem where fish and other marine wildlife flourish.

Melvin Wylie

Shared Responsibility in Protecting the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

FAIRFAX, Va. - Today, the Virginia Conservation Network and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) hosted a public forum in Northern Virginia focused on the critical role that organizations and individuals play in protecting and conserving the region's water resources, including the Chesapeake Bay and its headwaters. The forum, held at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., convened a cross-section of more than 90 community leaders, government officials, academics and environmentalists who share the common goal of improving the quality of the region's waterways and, as a result, protecting their diverse eco-systems. "The forum demonstrated that each one of us can make a meaningful difference in protecting the environmental health of the Chesapeake Bay," said Nathan Lott, executive director of the Virginia Conservation Network. "While some of the solutions to our water quality issues are expensive and long-term, communities and homeowners can positively affect our waterways everyday by how they care for their property." Much of the day's discussion focused on stormwater management issues facing rapidly growing urban and suburban regions of Northern Virginia. Solutions including stream restoration, vegetative swales, grass buffers and best practices in turf care were discussed as ways in which municipalities and homeowners can take action to mitigate stormwater overflow. Another key topic at the forum was the importance of public stewardship and responsible lawn care and landscaping practices in the Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Several speakers underscored that healthy and properly maintained lawns and landscaping are highly effective in helping to absorb water and prevent stormwater runoff. "Healthy, sustainable lawns and landscaping are essential to protecting our rivers, estuaries, lakes and streams," said Chris Wible, director of Environmental Stewardship at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, and a speaker at the forum. "At ScottsMiracle-Gro, we are committed to doing our part to ensure our company and lawn care products advance water quality and conservation. We are also working to educate consumers that proper lawn care practices will help protect our precious water resources." Wible recommended homeowners follow these simple best practices in caring for their lawns:

• Mow grass high. Tall grass grows strong roots, which are better able to absorb water and keep rainfall in your backyard and not moving into storm sewers and waterways.

 

• Mulch grass clippings. Mulching grass clippings recycles nutrients, and returns organic matter to the soil. Rich soil helps absorb and filter rainfall, reducing erosion and water runoff.

 

• Clean up. Sweep grass clippings, fertilizer and leaves off sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces to help keep nutrients out of waterways.

 

• Conserve water. Use rainfall as much as possible to water your lawn. Most yards do not need supplemental irrigation. Direct downspouts out into the lawn, rain gardens and rain barrels.

 

• Create buffer. If your lawn borders water, do not mow or fertilize to the water's edge. Create a buffer zone with uncut grass or other vegetation to capture stormwater and prevent soil erosion.

  Several lawn care tips can be viewed on www.scotts.com or by going to the Lawn Care Basics Web site. ScottsMiracle-Gro has been involved with Chesapeake Bay stakeholders on water quality issues for many years. In 2006, the Company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chesapeake Executive Council that supported a stewardship program to reduce nutrient losses from residential lawns. As part of that program, ScottsMiracle-Gro agreed to reduce the level of phosphorus, a nutrient, in its lawn maintenance fertilizers by 50 percent by the end of 2009. The Company achieved that goal and has since announced that all its lawn maintenance fertilizers will be phosphorus-free by the end of 2012. ScottsMiracle-Gro plans to host similar public forums across the country throughout the next several years in an effort to bring further attention to local and regional water-related issues. Most recently, the Company hosted a Water Quality forum in Erie, Pa. in May. ScottsMiracle-Gro has also made a multi-year commitment to educate consumers about the role they can play in advancing water quality and conservation through best practices in lawn and garden care.

Melvin Wylie

Groundbreaking Technology to Protect Chesapeake Bay

MANHEIM, Pa. - Joined by local and state officials at Kreider Farms, Bion Environmental Technologies Inc. (OTC: BNET) today unveiled groundbreaking new technology that protects local streams and the Chesapeake Bay, saves taxpayer money, and creates a source of renewable energy. Featured speakers included Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture George Greig, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Executive Deputy Secretary John Hines and Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) Executive Director Dr. Paul Marchetti. Forgoing the traditional approach of treatment at municipal wastewater and stormwater facilities, Bion's new advanced micro-aerobic digestion technology provides on-site nutrient treatment at a livestock farm before they ever have an opportunity to flow into local streams and watersheds. The result is a dramatic reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus from animal waste that otherwise would enter the Chesapeake Bay. When Bion's projects at Kreider Farms are fully implemented the technology will create enough biomass to power approximately 2,700 homes. "Bion's groundbreaking technology has far-reaching implications beyond the Chesapeake Bay," said company CEO Dominic Bassani. "Not only does it help protect our local aquifers and rivers, as well as produce a source of renewable energy, but reduced cleanup costs mean an incredible savings for taxpayers. Bion's technology addresses challenges that threaten our global water supply by addressing nutrient runoff at the local level." Bion's recently completed $7.5-million installation at Kreider Dairy Farms, a 1,200 dairy-cow operation, was funded by PENNVEST, and DEP will verify nutrient reductions. Offsets can be used by municipal wastewater and regional stormwater facilities as qualified reductions for the federal Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Chesapeake Bay initiative. The credits could also be made available for use by municipalities in other states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed area. The Bion performance data released today is based upon independent laboratory analysis. The analysis found the technology is already removing 85 percent of the nitrogen targets with 100 percent of the phosphorous captured for Bion's approved nutrient-reduction plan filed with DEP. The installation will be fully operational by Oct. 1. For more data, please see www.biontech.com. "Remediation for nutrients has long been unaffordable by livestock operators," said Bion Executive Vice Chair Ed Schafer, former governor of North Dakota and secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "The verified nutrient reductions in the watershed made possible by the Bion technology enable on-farm installations to provide an affordable solution to the Chesapeake Bay nutrient-reduction mandates committed to by Pennsylvania in its Watershed Improvement Program." About Bion Bion Environmental Technologies has provided environmental treatment solutions to the agriculture and livestock industry since 1990. Bion's patented next-generation technology provides a unique comprehensive treatment of livestock waste that achieves substantial reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus, ammonia, and greenhouse and other gases, as well as pathogens, hormones, herbicides and pesticides. Bion's process simultaneously recovers cellulosic biomass from the waste stream. For more information see www.biontech.com and www.bionpa.com.

Melvin Wylie

Nissan LEAF Parts Will Be Built in Decherd, Tenn.,

FRANKLIN, Tenn. - Nissan Americas today confirmed that, starting in early 2013, it will produce the electric motor for the Nissan LEAF – the world's first all-electric, zero-emission vehicle designed for the mass market – at its Decherd, Tenn., powertrain assembly plant. Preparation of the plant for electric motor production, facilitated by U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program loan funds, will include addition of a new assembly line and will create up to 90 new jobs. When the new assembly line is completed, the plant will have the capacity to produce up to 150,000 electric motors annually for Nissan LEAFs, which will be built at the company's assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn. "Nissan's Tennessee operations are paving the way to a zero-emission future for everyone," said Bill Krueger, vice chairman of Nissan Americas. "By delivering motors for the first mass-produced electric vehicles manufactured in the United States, our Decherd plant will play a vital role in making zero-emission mobility a reality for American consumers." The work to support the electric motor assembly line represents the fifth addition to Nissan's Decherd operations, which began production in 1997. The new assembly line will be located within the existing facility using 100,000 sq.-ft. of available floor space, and will feature highly automated, state-of-the-art equipment including wire winding machines, magnetization and magnet insertion equipment, varnishing and hot press equipment and test equipment. Today, the 1.2 million sq.-ft. Decherd plant produces engines and components for Nissan vehicles built in North America, and also houses engine casting and forging operations. The plant currently has the capacity to produce 950,000 engines, 1.1 million crankshaft forgings and 192,000 cylinder-block castings annually. Nissan will produce the Nissan LEAF and the batteries that power it at its Smyrna manufacturing complex. The advanced, lithium-ion battery plant is on track to be operational late next year at approximately the same time LEAF production is targeted to begin in Smyrna.

Melvin Wylie

Corona Save the Beach Project

Corona Save the Beach built a hotel made of rubbish collected partly from Europe's beach to raise awareness of beach pollution.    

Melvin Wylie