Innovations from around the globe have environmentalists optimistic that we’re on the path to sustainability. A sustainable global economy would create both wealth and well being for rich and poor alike, while maintaining the global ecosystem that underlies (and makes possible) the global economy.
According to Earthsky.org, that was the message from the experts at The Worldwatch Institute, an environmental and sustainability think tank that unveiled its ’State of the World 2008: Innovations for a Sustainable Economy’ report January 9 at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington.
The report, which is a 269-page book written by 19 authors from around the world, says two contradictory trends define the state of the world this year: Environmental degradation threatens the global economy, while a rising wave of innovation promises to create a sustainable global economy that will benefit both man and planet.
Worldwatch president Christopher Flavin and State of the World project co-director Gary Gardner were mostly upbeat at the press conference, citing a flurry of new ideas that are starting to steer the global economy on a sustainable course.
These innovations include a ton of venture capital that is being invested in clean technology, such as renewable energy. These investments jumped 78 percent in 2006 and hit $2.9 billion, making “clean tech“ the third-largest venture investment category behind the Internet and biotechnology.
The speakers also mentioned wetlands banks, which are a market-based solution to biodiversity issues (providing a way for land developers to offset wetlands that they destroy). More than 400 of these banks exist in the United States.
In addition, the market for solar photovoltaic cells is doubling every two years; 27 large US corporations are lobbying Congress to pass climate legislation that caps greenhouse gas emissions; microfinance initiatives are taking hold and creating more social sustainability; consumers are demanding green products such as hybrid cars and organic foods; and policymakers in Europe have effectively set a new global standard for chemical regulations, making them environmentally strict for both new and old chemicals.
There’s also the commitment of companies such as Wal-Mart, DuPont and Interface to reduce their environmental impact by slashing waste and conserving energy--with the result that they save lots of money, too.
The Worldwatch folks argue that if these innovations can be scaled up and the major economic players--entrepreneurs, investors, consumers, manufacturers and policymakers--all get behind sustainable development, then the world has a shot at creating a truly sustainable global economy.
These are lofty goals, not likely to be realized soon. It will take a lot of political will in a lot of countries. But it’s encouraging that some changes are underway.
By pushing the economy toward sustainability, what environmental issues will we be solving? First, we don’t have unlimited natural resources, such as oil and fresh water. Second, climate change: We’ve realized the atmosphere has its limits and the consequences of exceeding them could be damaging. Third, urban air pollution that that causes 2 million premature deaths each year. Fourth, fish stocks that could be gone by 2050. The list goes on.
What will the costs be? If we do nothing, the effects of climate change will cost 5 to 20 percent of gross world product each year this century, according to the 2006 Stern Report, whereas the price of slowing down climate change is estimated to be 0.1 to 1 percent of gross world product. Surely this is an investment we can make.
After the press conference, State of the World co-director Tom Prugh told me that as the world moves to a sustainable economy, energy costs will rise to reflect the actual costs that we inflict on the global ecosystem by using energy the way we do. As a result we’ll find that transportation is more expensive, but we’ll be paying the true, full costs of that service.
Manufacturing costs could also rise, but in response companies could create more durable products that last longer, made from components that are reusable. A true valuation of the economy’s impact on nature could spur new innovation that lessens that impact.
Dan Kulpinski

IndiaÕs Ministry of Environment and Forests has made a big announcement that air quality in industrial areas must be the same as in residential areas.

All eyes this year are on India’s plans to adapt to the effects of global warming and chart a development path that will avoid the worst of climate change, Kalingatimes.com reported.
The plan, to be finalized by the prime minister’s task force on climate change set up last year, is expected in February or March.
Some last minute inputs may come in from the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) scheduled here early February. Organized by The Energy and Resources Institute every year, the DSDS theme this year is sustainable development and climate change.
Since climate change is now at the center of world attention, everyone is awaiting India’s plan, aware that the development path charted by this country will have a major impact on the global environment this century--for better or for worse.
Other critical environmental issues too await India’s policymakers in 2008.
The ministry of environment and forests (MOE&F) has just made a big announcement --air quality in industrial areas must be the same as in residential areas. People living near factories can thus look forward to fewer respiratory ailments, as long as the new rule is implemented in 2008.
Now the ambient air quality standards in India for major pollutants in most areas are an annual average of 60 micrograms per cubic meter of air of sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) that are small enough to enter the lungs, 140 micrograms of suspended particulate matter and 2 micrograms of carbon monoxide per cubic meter.
The latest report of the Central Pollution Control Board says sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen are within these limits in the 17 largest cities of India, but RSPM levels are not, while carbon monoxide levels remain high in most of these cities.
The board has pointed out that the major sources of RSPM are vehicle exhausts; generator sets; small-scale industries; cooking, especially when fuel wood and dung cakes are used; and the dust generated by traffic movement. The high levels of carbon monoxide are mainly due to vehicle exhausts.
The aim in 2008 will be to enforce the standards in industrial areas. India is second to none when it comes to tough environmental standards to combat pollution, but implementation remains a weak point.
This is perhaps best illustrated by the state of the Yamuna river which, despite a plethora of laws and clean-up schemes, turns into a drain as it flows through the national capital. Thousands of tonnes of residential garbage and industrial effluents are dumped into this river everyday.
This year, the Commonwealth Games Village may come up on the river’s floodplains despite the best efforts of green activists. Its long-term effect on the ecosystem remains to be seen.
Another fractious issue may be taken up--an amendment to the coastal regulation zone. Right now, no one can build within 500 meters of the high water line, a requirement that displeases the hospitality industry because they think it is too restrictive while it displeases the greens because they think it is not restrictive enough.
An amendment is overdue and expected in 2008, though MOE&F officials told IANS (Indo-Asian News Service) they were not sure if it would actually be brought about and which way it would go.
Also, there is no consensus on the equally crucial need to preserve India’s biodiversity, despite lip service. Two divisive debates on this are expected in 2008.
The first will be about the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) drafted by the MOE&F, which has sought public comments on the draft. Most of the experts who had worked on earlier drafts of the plan are incensed by what the ministry has put out now. They describe it as not an action plan at all but a listing of things done already plus some platitudes.
The second issue is about the government’s decision to notify the law that gives forest dwellers some rights over forest products, but keeps Project Tiger reserves out of the ambit of the law.
This decision is not going to please people who live in and around forests and who have long been demanding these rights, supported by NGOs who hold that locals are the best custodians of the environment.
This position is, however, opposed by other NGOs who believe the only way to save India’s forests is to have no people inside them at all, with the possible exception of the ecology-conscious tourist.

Identifying bioenergy opportunities that are ripe for development is one of the main purposes of the 2008 AgOutlook Conference.

Renewable energy will be a major focus of the AgOutlook 2008 conference Feb. 25-27 in Monroe, the United States.
The conference will focus on opportunities a variety of renewable energy sources such as ethanol, biodiesel and other products can provide to increase agriculture’s contribution to the Louisiana economy, Shreveporttimes.com reported.
Sponsored by the LSU AgCenter, the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Rural Development, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the conference theme is “Connecting Agriculture and Renewable Energy Opportunities.“
“The purpose of the 2008 AgOutlook Conference is to provide current information on large-scale and small-scale technologies for producing fuel products from a wide array of agricultural products, identifying bioenergy opportunities that are ripe for development, providing economic information on various alternative energy enterprises, highlighting several alternative energy success stories, and providing information on grant opportunities and other support for new bioenergy businesses,“ said LSU AgCenter regional director Dr. Bob Hutchinson, who is one of the conference organizers.
“This will also be a great opportunity for attendees to network and exchange ideas on alternative energy opportunities that may result in new and exciting collaborative ventures,“ he said.
The conference will take place at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Conference Center on US 165 near I-20 in Monroe. It will begin with an opening reception at 5 p.m. on Feb. 25. Formal presentations start at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 26 and continue through Feb. 27-Ñconcluding with an optional tour of Bayou Wood Products that begins at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27.
Production and processing of agricultural products in Louisiana already contribute about $10 billion to the state’s economy, but experts say there is potential for even more.
“New bioenergy businesses based on the conversion of agricultural commodities and byproducts into energy products show promise of enhancing the value of row crops, forestry products and animal enterprises in our state,“ said Dr. Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor .
“These businesses could also infuse new life into Louisiana’s declining rural economies by opening the door for new energy-related businesses and creating jobs associated with production, processing and transporting alternative fuel products and byproducts,“ he said.
Building businesses based on renewable fuels could help Louisiana continue to take advantage of opportunities presented by the state’s long history with both energy and agriculture, experts say.
“Our state is blessed with some of the most fertile and productive soils in the world, as well as a climate that is ideal for the production of many crops and trees,“ said Dr. David Boethel, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor. “But compared to many other states, we still have had limited success in adding value to agricultural products through processing and manufacturing of consumer products.
“Many economists believe success in the arena of renewable energy is fundamental to building vibrant economies in rural agricultural regions of Louisiana,“ he said.
The conference will focus on opportunities for forest products, biodiesel and ethanol, as well as ways to spur rural community development. It also will feature success stories from various USDA grant programs.
Speakers will include a variety of regional and national experts in the area of renewable energy, including university faculty members, government officials, representatives of various associations and individual farmers .
The conference originated as an Agricultural Crisis Summit in 2003 in response to problems the state’s agricultural industry faced that year. Then it evolved into an annual event focused on taking a proactive stance to the future of Louisiana agriculture.
“We are glad to see this conference continue to be a place where people in the agricultural industry come together to plan for the future,“ said Dr. William B. “Bill“ Richardson, LSU AgCenter chancellor. “Over its life, we’ve seen relatively good years and some bad years, particularly related to storms, for the state’s farmers.
“But the common thread behind this conference each year is that those who are involved in Louisiana agriculture want to take an active part in ensuring it
remains viable and competitive,“
he said.