globalbriefs


News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.


Coastal Caretaking Zoning Tropical Waters Like Land Resources


In the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, 24 scientists from Canada, the U.S., the UK, China, Australia, New Caledonia, Sweden and Ken- ya affirm that one-fifth of humanity lives within 60 miles of a tropical coastline, primarily in developing countries. They warn that growing populations and the increasing im- pact of climate change ensure that pressures on these coastal waters will only grow.


Most locations are lacking in holistic, regional management approaches to balance the growing demands from fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, oil, gas and mineral extraction, energy production, residential development, tourism and conservation. Lead author Peter Sale, of the United Nations University’s Canadian-based In-


stitute for Water, Environment and Health, states, “We zone land for development, farms, parks, industry and other human needs. We need a comparable degree of care and planning for coastal ocean waters. We subject [the sea], particularly along tropical shores, to levels of human activity as intense as those on land. The result is widespread overfishing, pollution and habitat degradation.” According to the paper, solutions must address a larger geographic scale over a longer period of time; focus on multiple issues (conservation, fisheries enhance- ment and land-based pollution); and originate from a local jurisdiction to gain traction with each community.


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Clever Collaborations Renewables Gain Ground Worldwide


Excess heat from London subway tun- nels and an electric substation will soon be funneled into British homes, slashing energy costs and lowering pollution, according to the Islington Council. Germany’s renewable energy in- dustry has broken a solar power record, prompting utility company RWE to close fossil fuel power plants that are no lon- ger competitive. RWE says 3.1 gigawatts of generating capacity, or 6 percent of its total capacity, will be taken offline as it shuts down some of its gas- and coal- fired power stations. In China, wind power is leaving nuclear behind. Electricity output from China’s wind farms exceeded that from its nuclear plants for the first time in 2012 and out-produced it again last year, generating 135 terawatt-hours (1 million megawatts)—nearly enough to power New York state. While it takes about six years to build a nuclear plant, a wind farm can be completed in a matter of months. China also employs a recy-


cling-for-payment program in Beijing subway stations that accept plastic bottles as payment. Passengers receive credit ranging from the equivalent of five to 15 cents per bottle, which is applied toward rechargeable subway cards. In the U.S., a newly installed


working prototype of a pioneering Solar Road project has raised more than than double its $1 million crowd-funding goal to seed the manufacturing process (Indiegogo.com/projects/solar-road- ways). Watch a video at Tinyurl.com/ NewSolarRoadways.


Primary Source: Earth Policy Institute


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