Archive for biodiversity
Justin Timberlake Awarded for Environmental Leadership
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Justin Timberlake, the man who brought sexy back, has been honoured as an environmental leader by the EMA. The Environmental Media Association (EMA) has announced that Timberlake is the recipient of the “Futures Award,” sharing good company with past recipients Edward Norton, Rosario Dawson and popular band Maroon 5. Timberlake is known obviously for his music and acting career but also for his incredible eco-friendly golf course in Tennessee. Timberlake said, “My two loves are golf and the environment.”
Before we get back to JT, it’s important to understand the role of the Environmental Media Association (EMA). “The Environmental Media Association believes that through television, film and music, the entertainment community has the power to influence the environmental awareness of millions of people. This initial concept set the stage for our 1989 launch and it remains a core EMA tenant today. EMA mobilizes the entertainment industry in educating people about environmental issues, which in turn, inspires them to take action. A pioneer in linking the power of celebrity to environmental awareness, it was EMA who invented the ‘green carpet,’ launching the concept of taking a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle – not a limo – to high profile awards events and bringing the concept of alternative automotive technology to millions of previously unaware households.”
EMA President Debbie Levin called Timberlake “a great example of how you can lend your voice for positive change.”
Now let’s explore some of the ‘greens’ at Timberlake’s eco-friendly golf course. Mirimichi golf course, located in Tennessee, has numerous green features and here’s the top five directly from their website:
- Audubon International Classic Sanctuary
The Mirimichi team partnered with Audubon International and consulted with Audubon Environmental so that the renovation of the golf facilities would implement sustainable resource management principles that incorporate wildlife conservation, habitat rehabilitation and enhancement, water conservation and water quality protection. Audubon International (AI) certification requires a yearly audit to ensure Mirimichi continues to implement these natural resource management principles long term. - GEO Certified
Mirimichi is one of the first ten courses world-wide to be recognized as GEO Certified from the Golf Environmental Organization (GEO). This prestigious designation recognizes our commitment to environmental sustainability by protecting and enhancing ecosystems and biodiversity, maximizing resource efficiency, reducing waste, and conserving cultural heritage and landscapes. We adhere to the promise of continual improvement, and regularly monitor and review environmental performance indicators to ensure progress. - Future Clubhouse
Mirimichi’s future clubhouse will be designed and constructed to meet the highest green building and performance measures. These measures will substantially reduce water and energy consumption, protect indoor air quality and occupant health, and use sustainable building materials that include local and recycled materials, as well as reduce the amount of construction waste diverted to area landfills. - Buffers, Littoral Shelves, Wildlife Habitat Enhancement
Along with conversion of turfgrass to grassland habitat, buffers and littoral shelves (shelves planted with aquatic vegetation along banks) have been added to on-site streams and ponds. Buffers and shelves protect water quality and provide safe, easy access to water resources for wildlife. - Natural Resource Management Center (NRMC)
The NRMC, or maintenance facility for Mirimichi, is the building in which pieces of equipment are serviced, and pesticides, fuel, fertilizer, and cleaning solvents are stored. The building has been designed to reduce the potential for spills and prevent pollution of soil, surface water, or ground water.
This isn’t JT’s first award for good deeds. The 24th annual Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards gave the“Big Help Award” to Justin Timberlake for his efforts on behalf of the Shriners Hospital for Children. Justin Timberlake’s annual Shriners Hospitals for Children Open is a PGA golf tournament that’s dedicated to raising money and awareness for the organization. Justin Timberlake is a great ambassador for kids and the environment and remarkably, he’s leveraging his notoriety for good and not just fame and fortune.
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Top 10 Greenest Countries
Posted by: | CommentsThe list of the top 10 greenest countries was compiled from the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). The development of the EPI was joint effort between Yale University (Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy) and Columbia University (Center for International Earth Science Information Network) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.
“The 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 163 countries on 25 performance indicators tracked across ten policy categories covering both environmental public health and ecosystem vitality. These indicators provide a gauge at a national government scale of how close countries are to established environmental policy goals. The EPI’s proximity-to-target methodology facilitates cross-country comparisons as well as analysis of how the global community is doing collectively on each particular policy issue.”
According to the latest EPI results with a score out of 100, these are the top 10 greenest countries (click on the country to see their EPI score breakdown):
1. Iceland – EPI score: 93.5
2. Switzerland – EPI score: 89.1
3. Costa Rica – EPI score: 86.4
4. Sweden – EPI score: 86.0
5. Norway – EPI score: 81.1
6. Mauritius – EPI score: 80.6
7. France – EPI score: 78.2
8. Austria – EPI score: 78.1
9. Cuba – EPI score: 78.1
10. Colombia – EPI score: 76.8
Iceland bumped Switzerland from the #1 spot they held in 2008 as the top greenest country in 2010 due to its high scores on environmental public health and generating nearly all of its power from renewable sources (hydropower and geothermal energy), plus its control of greenhouse gas emissions. The United States fell to the 61st position, as compared to 39th in the 2008 EPI, Canada ranked 46th (12th in 2008), Russia 69th, China 121st, and India 123rd. The bottom 5 is 159th Togo, 160th Angola, 161st Mauritania, 162nd Central African Republic, and at the bottom in 163rd is Sierra Leone with an EPI score of 32.1. You can view the full list of all 163 countries here.
The EPI Indicators assessed in the ranking covers environmental health (water, air pollution, environmental burden of disease) and ecosystem vitality (climate change, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, biodiversity and habitat, air pollution, water). Ranging from CO2 emissions to water quality to pesticide regulations, many variables are taken into consideration. Refer to the pie graph below.
courtesty of http://epi.yale.edu
Both Canada and the US fell considerably from their 2008 EPI ranking. Let’s hope the next set of EPI results of the greenest countries sees remarkable improvement in North America.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !
Ontario 2009/10 Environmental report released
Posted by: | CommentsProtecting the environment is of course a global concern but as a company based in Toronto we were keen to read today’s release of the 2009/10 annual report from the Environmental Commissioner of the province of Ontario. To mark the event the office of the environmental commission broadcasted a webcast that features key points and have also released a comprehensive annual report can be downloaded to a PDF file via their official website. As with many matters that become political their appears to be some arm wrestling between the office at the provincial level and national policy in terms of seeing through the commitments that have been made. This repeats itself in many other countries as budgets and initiatives sometimes fall into inertia. Gord Miller the Environmental Commissioner for Ontario added:
“The government rightly prides itself on the progress it has made in passing legislation to protect the environment, the actions on the ground often undermine it”
Within the report are contained a number of cases which he feels emphasize his case that bureaucratic and political inaction have ended up causing environmental issues or in fact undermined the overall governmental policy for the environment policy for the environment. Amongst the examples that he cites are these:
- A running and current inventory of closed landfills has not been maintained correctly by the Ministry of the Environment may lead to continued pollution of nearby groundwater
- Rapid expansion of population in southern Ontario has not been factored into rules that oversee wastewater discharges thereby leading to added pollution into the Great Lakes
- Ontario’s air quality standards need to be reviewed as the current legislature allows various sectors of industry to circumvent provincial standards which are tougher than the national ones
- Ontario needs to plants 1 billion trees by 2020 to aid biodiversity and lessen the challenges of climate change. The government proposal was the target of just 50 million trees in the province in the same time period
Natural beauty near Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
While these points and others demonstrate the gap between provincial national policy the overall report does make for more positive reading about the accomplishments, goals and projections for the province in its quest to better manage environmental affairs. The entire report runs at 232 pages and delves into green citizenry and the ‘Eco Bill of Rights’ that apply to all Ontarians. Whole chapters are dedicated to green energy and the green economy while focusing on projects that stimulate renewable energy expansion. The economic aspects of the report provide a better understanding of just how the province can achieve what it has planned for the years ahead.
Biodiversity issues also receive intense study as the impact on wildlife and our natural environment are reviewed along with solutions underpinned by improvement. Sections on water, mining and treatment of waste are also expansive and informative.
More than anything else the report looks to provide answers and incorporate solutions and ideas that will lead the entire province into a more harmonious next few decades where it concerns the environment. The entire report can be downloaded via the Environmental Commission’s website link here.
Tags: biodiversity, Climate Change, eco bill of rights, environmental commission ontario, Environmental Commissioner of the province of Ontario, Environmental Commissioner of the province of Ontario report, Environmental Commissioner Ontario, Environmental Commissioner ontario report, environmental initiatives, environmental policy, gord miller, landfills, ontario, planet forward, pollution, wasterwater management
