New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Rising demand and use of the Earth’s resources is above sustainable levels and humans need to cut back and conserve, the United Nations Environment Programme said Friday.

Some cheap and high quality sources of essential materials are already running short, UNEP said. Those materials include oil, copper and gold and the remaining sources require more fossil fuels and fresh water to produce than in the past.

Population growth and increasing prosperity for many of the world’s people is fueling demand for natural resources that is pushing consumption toward levels that are well above anything that is sustainable.

UNEP officials said decoupling an increased growth in the use of natural resources from economic growth was critical.

“Decoupling makes sense on all the economic, social and environmental dials,” says UN Under Secretary-General Achim Steiner, UNEP’s Executive Director.

For example, people in developed nations consume an average of 16 tons of minerals, ores, fossil fuels and biomass per capita. In addition, that ranges up to 40 tons or more per person in some developed nations. By contrast average consumption of those resources is only four tons per per person per year in India. But as more nations develop, consumption of those items increases and that kind of growth in consumption simply is not sustainable.

UNEP called on people to do more with less to conserve resources.

The agency called for furthering that goal with “an urgent rethink of the links between resource use and economic prosperity, buttressed by a massive investment in technological, financial and social innovation, to at least freeze per capita consumption in wealthy countries and help developing nations follow a more sustainable path.”

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Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – A study by Environment Canada found that policies under the Conservative-led government are not doing enough to prevent dangerous climate changes, which could cause the loss of thousands of species, melt Arctic ice and lead to a rise of sea level by several meters.

To prevent a grim environmental scenario, global greenhouse gas emissions would have to be cut to zero immediately to avoid a 2-degree Celsius increase in planetary temperature this century. Although Canada agreed to the 2009 Copenhagen Accord which agreed to the target, the Tory policies run contrary to the Accord.

The report, which used a sophisticated computer models, pointed out that Ottawa continues to promote wider use and export of Canadian oil sands and coal. The model included carbon dioxide and other GHG emissions, aerosols, land use change, and the flow of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans and land surfaces.

However, Canada’s further export of oil sands may be curbed following a pronouncement on Wednesday by U.S. President Barack Obama that the American concern over the potentially destructive nature of Canada’s oil sands must be addressed before Washington approves the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL 3,200-kilometer pipeline project.

In March, The U.S. State Department ordered a new study on the $7-billion Keystone project and provided a public comment period until spring. Previously, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asked the State Department to make a supplemental environmental impact study over safety concerns and impact of the oil sands on climate change.

Canada supplies about 23 percent of the yearly U.S. imports of crude every year.

Harper, in a campaign trip to Quebec, promised to pursue more clean energy projects to reduce Canada’s dependence on fossil fuels and cut GHG. He promised to provide a $4.2-billion loan guarantee for Newfoundland and Labrador’s Lower Churchill hydro project, which will transmit electricity directly into Atlantic Canada and New England customers through two subsea cables.

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Montreal, Quebec, Canada (AHN) – Environment Canada admitted it was way off the mark when it released its weather forecast for Quebec.

The weather agency estimates it made a 1,000 percent miss when it said Quebec residents should expect just 2 to 4 centimeters (0.78 to 1.6 inches) of snow on Monday.

However, by Tuesday afternoon up to 25 cm (9.8 inches) of snow had blanketed Quebec City and there were more coming.

Vehicles and fire hydrants were buried by the snow, while in Montreal long lines of travelers were waiting for trains and buses Monday evening.

A meteorologist of the agency said they use a tool called numerical guidance that simulates weather patterns.

He said the guidance is not capable of picking up fine details of the weather pattern, leading to a low snow volume forecast. He added Quebec’s first snowstorm had a very unusual weather pattern that caused the agency to miscalculate snow volume.

Although city crew were clearing streets and sidewalks, officials said it could take five days to remove the heavy snowfall.

Another city that struggled with heavy snowfall was London in Ontario, where over 100 cm (39.4 inches) of snow fell in the past two days. It is just a few centimeters away from the snow that fell in the city from December to March.

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Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – The federal government of Canada appears to have learned its environmental lessons from the recent deaths of ducks in Alberta’s lakes used as tailings pond by oil sands companies.

On Tuesday, Environment Minister Jim Prentice said Ottawa had rejected the proposed Prosperity mine near Williams Lake in British Columbia. The decision was based on the possible negative impact of the mine on the surroundings, including Fish Lake, which is known for its picturesque scenery.

BC Premier Gordon Campbell had been pushing for the $800 million project because of its potential to boost the province’s coffers. BC Minister of State for Mining Randy Hawes said Ottawa’s decision is not embarrassing, just disappointing.

Hawes said BC would continue to help the operator, Taseko Mines, win the federal government’s okay and to subsequently register the gold-copper project.

On the same day, Prentice gave the go signal for a gold-copper mine project at Mount Milligan, near Prince George.

Prentice explained the different responses by Ottawa to the two projects. He said in a statement, “We believe in balancing resource stewardship with economic development. The Mount Milligan project has been designed in a way that minimizes impacts to the environment, while the significant adverse environmental effects of the Prosperity project cannot be justified as it is currently proposed.”

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Calgary, Alberta, Canada (AHN) – Alberta Environment filed nine charges Thursday against Suncor Energy for allowing the company’s storm water runoff to enter Athabasca River and providing misleading information on discharge of water and dirt.

If found guilty, Suncor faces a fine of $500,000 on each charge, or a total penalty of $4.5 million.

Alberta Environment said the incident happened in May 2008 when Suncor released the water that entered the Athabasca River while the company was constructing its Voyageur upgrader. In another incident, the government agency said Suncor provided it with misleading information on Suncor’s discharge of water and dirt into the same river from the energy firm’s mine site near Fort McMurray.

Suncor spokesman Brad Bellows denied the government’s accusations. Bellows said the runoff was melting snow and rain from an area undergoing clearing for a tank farm located between Highway 63 and the Athabasca River. Bellows stressed there was no tar in the runoff.

Suncor reported Wednesday that it had started maintenance on one of its two oil sands upgraders near Fort McMurray, together with work on a hydrogen reformer connected to the upgrader.

The maintenance work is expected to last six weeks, during which the upgrader is expected to operate at reduced rates. But Suncor’s other upgrader will continue normal operations. Suncor produced an average of 331,000 barrels of oil per day in August.

Suncor spokesman Brad Bellows denied the government’s accusations. Bellows said the runoff was melting snow and rain from an area undergoing clearing for a tank farm located between Highway 63 and the Athabasca River. Bellows stressed there was no tar in the runoff.

The case is scheduled for a hearing on Nov. 3.

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1.  When you replace light bulbs go for the energy efficient variety.  These use a different system to produce the light, using a fraction of the energy used by traditional bulbs and they also last up to twelve times longer.  Lighting is estimated to make up between 10 and 15% of your energy bills so there is a large saving to be made here.

2.  Up to a third of the clean drinking water we use in our households is flushed down the toilet every day.  On average each flush uses eight litres of water.  You can easily fit a save-a-flush bag into your toilet cistern which will reduce water usage by approximately one litre for each flush.  Often your local water company will provide these so it need not cost you a penny to fit.

3.  When replacing appliances look out for their energy efficiency ratings.  Do some research online to see how each appliance compares with each other.  Ask your plumber to use fittings with energy efficiency in mind, these range from baths that retain heat to taps that regulate water flow.

4.  On a larger scale you could invest in a rain water harvesting system.  This uses rainwater to flush toilets and use in the garden, saving your fresh drinking water uses to the minimum.  This helps your pocket and the environment.

5.  There is ongoing debate about how long a solar panel will take to pay for themselves through savings in energy bills but an often quoted number is a decade.  While this sounds like a long time the savings to the environment by using sustainable energy is substantial and with ongoing energy prices rises, the return may well be a lot quicker.

6.  Contact your local authority to see if there are any grants or subsidies available for energy saving home improvements.  These range from help with replacing old windows to insulation and solar panels.

7.  When replacing or upgrading your heating system, research some environmentally friendly alternatives.  For example Eco Heat Pumps work through a deep borehole close to your property and work by converting a small amount of heat in a large area to a greater amount of heat in a smaller area.  Heating your water and under floor heating in this way will save you substantial amounts of money on your energy bills.

8.  Are you looking to build a house or purchase a new one?  Put at the top of your wish list a green eco home.  If you are building one yourself include all our top tips in the initial planning stages and use as many local suppliers as possible.  You may well be lucky and find one already built and utilising all these energy saving systems.

ou would need to have been living on Mars if you had not heard of global warming and the negative effect we are having on our environment.  As a result many people have become leaders in green living and spend much of their day devoted to ensuring they are reducing their carbon footprint.  Whilst not all of us are this devoted there are a number of things that we can do to make our homes more environmentally friendly which can often save us money as well.  Here we have listed some top tips for you to try. 1.  When you replace light bulbs go for the energy efficient variety.  These use a different system to produce the light, using a fraction of the energy used by traditional bulbs and they also last up to twelve times longer.  Lighting is estimated to make up between 10 and 15% of your energy bills so there is a large saving to be made here. 2.  Up to a third of the clean drinking water we use in our households is flushed down the toilet every day.  On average each flush uses eight litres of water.  You can easily fit a save-a-flush bag into your toilet cistern which will reduce water usage by approximately one litre for each flush.  Often your local water company will provide these so it need not cost you a penny to fit. 3.  When replacing appliances look out for their energy efficiency ratings.  Do some research online to see how each appliance compares with each other.  Ask your plumber to use fittings with energy efficiency in mind, these range from baths that retain heat to taps that regulate water flow. 4.  On a larger scale you could invest in a rain water harvesting system.  This uses rainwater to flush toilets and use in the garden, saving your fresh drinking water uses to the minimum.  This helps your pocket and the environment. 5.  There is ongoing debate about how long a solar panel will take to pay for themselves through savings in energy bills but an often quoted number is a decade.  While this sounds like a long time the savings to the environment by using sustainable energy is substantial and with ongoing energy prices rises, the return may well be a lot quicker. 6.  Contact your local authority to see if there are any grants or subsidies available for energy saving home improvements.  These range from help with replacing old windows to insulation and solar panels. 7.  When replacing or upgrading your heating system, research some environmentally friendly alternatives.  For example Eco Heat Pumps work through a deep borehole close to your property and work by converting a small amount of heat in a large area to a greater amount of heat in a smaller area.  Heating your water and under floor heating in this way will save you substantial amounts of money on your energy bills. 8.  Are you looking to build a house or purchase a new one?  Put at the top of your wish list a green eco home.  If you are building one yourself include all our top tips in the initial planning stages and use as many local suppliers as possible.  You may well be lucky and find one already built and utilising all these energy saving systems.

Anna Barrington writes for Percy Williams & Sons, builders of innovative environmentally friendly developers of the latest houses for sale Cornwall. For more information please visit new homes cornwall.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/how-green-is-your-home-1771016.html