The growth in air transportation volume has important global environmental impacts associated with the potential for climate change. On local to regional scales, noise, decreased air quality related primarily to ozone production and particulate levels, and other issues, such as roadway congestion related to airport services and local water quality, are all recognized as important impacts. (more…)

It is of interest to examine potential sources of greenhouse gases sources or atmospheric CO2 by analysis of the global distribution of carbon in all its forms. Atmospheric carbon, which can be assumed to be essentially all in the form of CO2 (i.e., 700 Gt carbon equals 2570 Gt of CO2) comprises only about 1.6% of total global carbon, excluding lithospheric carbon. Obvious greenhouse gases sources of direct or indirect additions of CO2 to the atmosphere are therefore fossil fuel deposits, since portions of them are combusted each year as fuels, and terrestrial biomass. (more…)

Since preindustrial times, ambient concentrations of the greenhouse gases have exhibited substantial increases, inter alia CO2 by 30% to about 360 parts per million (ppm), CH 4 by 145% to more than 1700 parts per billion (ppb), and N20 by 15% to more than 300 ppb. The growth rates in the concentrations of these gases in the early 1990s were lower than predicted; while subsequent data indicate that the growth rates are comparable to those averaged over the 1980s. (more…)

The pressure relief valves protect against the devastating effects of the overpressure. Unfortunately there are so careful with the environment and which are not always made leakproof, and can therefore be emitting harmful gases into the atmosphere continuously. While European directives aimed at reducing emissions of gases causing the greenhouse effect based on a share issue (linked to heavy fines for countries that fail), other solutions much easier go unnoticed. (more…)

Since the early 1960s, climate change and air quality have become major and often controversial issues in many countries and among groups from governments to various scientific communities. Prominent among these issues is the greenhouse effect, in which the gradually increasing tropospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N20) are believed to trap an excessive amount of solar radiation reflected from the earth. (more…)

The question has long been not whether or not to reduce air pollution, but by how much and by what means. Since the extent of the reduced discomfort and illness is not clear—and the measurement of peoples’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for reduced discomfort and illness is uncertain—it is not easy to know how much the pollution should be reduced. But it has always been clear that reducing automotive air pollution had to be part of the overall strategy. (more…)

The convention aims not only at stabilizing CO2 emissions in developed countries but also at ultimately reducing man-made CO2 emissions globally so as to stabilize the global climate. Environmental degradation cannot be singled out as an independent matter among various global issues. (more…)

The tourism sector is taking an active role in environmental protection. They are becoming aware of the impact generated by the activity and recognizing that their actions affect the social, economic and environmental fate. Moreover, the culture of social responsibility, conducted increasingly by decision makers of different tourist areas, is becoming a new (more…)

Austria - Greenpeace was invited by the Austrian authorities to fly the flag in a nuclear power plant. Zwentendorf nuclear plant was never implemented and has been off since the 70s. Today it became a new solar power station. Our banner read: “Energy Revolution = Solution to Climate Change”. (more…)

Lack of access to cleaner energy and the negative outwardnesses associated with energy consumption tend to cycle of poverty for poor households in developing countries. Because the poor lack access to, and often can not to afford cleaner and higher quality fuels and electricity and are therefore dependent on poor and inefficient burning biofuels such as wood and dung. (more…)