Transition Island Blog

SWOT Analysis - usually a business tool - is showing the economy could turn on new jobs created in the renewable energy and efficiency sectors.

Scotland is on the brink of a green jobs revolution with 50,000 posts expected to be created in the next decade, careers experts claim.

Wind analysts, turbine technicians and heat-pump installers will all be needed to cope with the renewable energy rush, according to Careers Scotland, which has started a new campaign to raise awareness of the growing green industry.

They say the number of jobs in fields such as recycling, conservation and renewables is set to rocket in the next ten years. Already there are an estimated 80,000 jobs in the renewable fields that did not previously exist, with another 50,000 predicted over the next decade. Read more…

(more…)

While action on Climate Change appears to be moving ahead, action on Peak Oil appears to be desperately slow.

Peak Oil is upon us - we now have 10% rises in the price of crude oil every month.

Burning fossil fuels contributes to Climate Change. 

Back in February, we reported that the UK & USA have the lowest level of people saying that they are personally making a significant effort to reduce their carbon output.

WHY?

(more…)

The Conference is a great success! Well-designed, well-attended and well-addressed by relevant speakers.

Organised by the Island Strategic Partnership (ISP) to launch the Eco-Isle Vision, their many speakers repeatedly brought the message home - we WILL get there.

journey planning

Setting the scene were David Pugh, speaking as leader of the Isle of Wight Council, and John Owen, Chair of the ISP. They reminded us that we have to commit to our destination before we plan the journey. And what an ambitious destination!

(more…)

Two public meetings are avalable for Isle of Wight people to find out more about the Eco-Isle vision for a sustainable future.

The Isle of Wight Council has organised a free Conference on March 26 to explain their Sustainable Community Strategy.

It will set out their vision for 2020 and plans for how a low carbon community will be achieved. The Strategy is the product of the Island Strategic Partnership, a multi-agency team of representatives from the public, business, voluntary and community sectors.

The morning will allow a variety of speakers to present relevant ideas from international competition, the Eden Project, Sustainable Energy Ireland, University Innovations and the new green design champion commission.

There is also an afternoon session for operations and business managers who would like to get practical advice about reducing the carbon footprint of their business. For more information about the content of this session, please call Pippa Howlett on 01983 823 693 or 07807 159 635.

A bigger event provided for the residents of the island is organised for the end of may, called the Big Green Picnic.

This will be held on Church Litten Park in Newport town centre on May 24 and 25.

Low carbon and sustainable lifestyles will be highlighted by the following features and activities that will be present throughout the whole weekend:

• Bicycle racks
• Discounted buses to Newport
• Electric Vehicle Exhibition including - Prius, Smart, Electric scooters, Segway
• Library exhibitions inside
• Council Tent - including - composting, solar car heats, future of eco-island exhibition plus… to be confirmed
• Quay Arts Tent - including - Straw bale housing, footprint pledge project
• Making bags - Ventbag - with our exhibit on banning plastic bags and our jute bags to buy…
• Making Bunting
• Mobile phone recycle unit
• Cinema tent - Green videos etc
• Health and Beauty Area
• Bandstand - Local talent and performers - from Green Storytelling to local bands
• Refreshments (WI and FM to be confirmed - more details later)
• Island Waste
• Games
• Workshops…

and much more still to be confirmed!!    

U.S. investors have filed a record 54 shareholder resolutions, asking companies act to reduce risks of climate change on the bottom line.

The number of resolutions was nearly double the amount filed in 2006.

Investors clearly feel that companies in every industry, especially energy sectors, should be acting now to assess and reduce climate change risks.

Shareholder resolutions on climate are most often voted down. But they do raise awareness of potential business impacts of emissions of gases scientists blame for warming the planet.

Fourteen of the 54 resolutions were withdrawn by investors after the companies agreed to disclose potential impacts from emerging climate regulations and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

(more…)

This charity encourages manufacturers and retailers to donate their high quality surplus for distribution to good causes.

In Kind Direct has a network of voluntary organisations representing every kind of cause - family welfare, sickness and disability, homelessness, emergency relief, environment, ethnic support and community groups.

donate surplus

Companies donate surplus goods, mainly newly manufactured items. They might be ends of lines, seasonal items, samples, customer returns, things in damaged packaging or with slight defects.

(more…)

Converting land for biofuels could actually worsen the problem of global warming.

Although proposed as a viable alternative to fossil fuels, it will create more major carbon emissions, a report has warned.

But there are alternative sources of biofuel, and today (26/2/08), the news is that biofuels should only be produced if they meet strict internationally agreed environmental standards.

(more…)

Sony and other big multinationals promised to drastically reduce their carbon footprint. 16/2/08

Twelve companies, including Nokia, Nike, and Hewlett-Packard, signed up to the Tokyo declaration, promising to “take all necessary action” to limit the increase in the global average temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

At a meeting arranged by Sony and the environmental group, WWF International, the firms pledged to encourage change in both factories/offices and among their customers.

(more…)

Businesses can make a profit by reducing carbon inefficiencies.

Half the cuts in greenhouse gas emissions needed to make the world safe can be achieved at a net profit to the global economy, a study has found.

McKinsey, the consultancy, published a report on 14/2/08 concluding that investment in energy efficiency would yield a profit of about 17%.

By using only energy-saving measures that could be done quickly and at minimal cost, this would also cut carbon dioxide emissions by about half the limit of safety according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

(more…)

The National Trust is giving its 54,000 staff and volunteers a day off to encourage them to lead greener lives.

In a campaign called “Leap forward for the climate“, the charity wants its workers to use 29 February to reduce their carbon footprint.

They will be encouraged to switch to low-energy light bulbs and make other home improvements on their day off.

Menawhile,  Southern Electric and The Sun have joined forces to launch The Great British Light Switch - a national campaign to cut Britain’s CO2 emissions and lead to swift action on climate change.

In the biggest green giveaway of its kind ever, Southern Electric gave away 4.5 million free energy saving light bulbs to over 2 million Sun readers on Saturday 19th January 2008.

Here, low-energy lightbulbs cost less than ordinary ones in certain supermarkets.
Get half-a-dozen and get your money back in months!