ecochampion

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Reposted from New Scientist Online Elephants can work cooperatively if that is the only way to reach food. This kind of coordinated behaviour was once thought to be unique to our nearest primate relatives. Joshua Plotnik of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and his colleagues have previously shown that elephants seem to recognise themselves in a mirror. To test the animals’ understanding of cooperation, Plotnik and his colleagues have developed an elephant version of an experiment... Read Full Story

Reposted from The Independent Online A Europe-wide survey conducted by the consulting firm Deloitte points to widespread interest in electric vehicles (EVs), but also suggests that only a minority think that they may be in the first wave of customers for the technology themselves. Deloitte asked 4,760 consumers whether they would be prepared to consider EVs as an option, and 31 per cent of respondents said they were not likely to consider such a vehicle, while at the other end of the... Read Full Story

Reposted from The BBC News Online From satellite data and climate models, scientists calculate that the two polar ice sheets are losing enough ice to raise sea levels by 1.3mm each year. Overall, sea levels are rising by about 3mm (0.12 inches) per year. Writing in Geophysical Research Letters, the team says ice loss here is speeding up faster than models predict. If present trends continue, sea level is likely to be significantly higher than levels projected by the IPCC” They add... Read Full Story

Reposted from The Guardian On Benbecula, they know all too well that rising tides threaten the UK’s coastline. For the 1,200 inhabitants of the small, low-lying island in the Outer Hebrides, the sea’s encroachment is becoming a serious problem, especially on its western shores. Impacts of Climate Change on Disadvantaged UK Coastal Communities, a report to be published tomorrow by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, an influential thinktank, records how local people have seen the coastline... Read Full Story

Reposted from Low Carbon Economy Businesses have expressed concerns that the government’s proposed Electricity Market Reform (EMR) will be both “complex and unwieldy”. Research conducted by npower found more than half of businesses believe the plans will lead to a rise in energy costs, with the carbon floor price being named as a major concern. Some 57 percent of those who took part in the study said they were worried about the impact imposing a minimum price on carbon would have on... Read Full Story

Reposted from Low Carbon Economy Members of the solar industry have called on the UK government to raise its ambitions for the renewable energy source. In an advert placed in this week’s New Statesman, the sector has linked with WWF, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth to draw attention to the potential solar power offers. Howard Johns, chairman of the Solar Trade Association, said: “This government isn’t taking solar seriously and that is completely unjustified. Costs of solar are... Read Full Story

Taken from: Low Carbon Economy Boeing has announced the release of a more environmentally-friendly 747 and claims it has already received orders from a number of major airlines. The 747-8 Intercontinental offers both improved financial and environmental performance, according to the manufacturer, which released its Dreamliner last year. Boeing claims the Intercontinental has 16 percent better fuel economy and 16 percent less CO2 emissions than its predecessor, the 747-400. It also has a... Read Full Story

Taken from: Low Carbon Economy Signs that the government’s Feed-in Tariff (FiT) review is already beginning to affect investor confidence have emerged, with the Matrix Group suspending its Clean Energy VCTs [Venture Capital Trusts]. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced its review of the incentives last week, saying it was addressing the concerns surrounding large-scale solar farms. Members of the industry then reacted angrily after it was revealed the research... Read Full Story

Taken from: The Daily Mail Most people assume evolution is a process that takes place gradually over thousands of years. But the Atlantic tomcod has evolved, in just 50 years, to become resistant to toxic chemicals that for decades poured into the Hudson and other rivers in New York and New Jersey. While long-term evolution is a result of natural selection, scientists cite this is an example of pollution driving evolution. Fins have changed: The amazing cod that has become immune to... Read Full Story