Assessing and ending light pollution

Light pollution is a major problem for astronomers in most if not all countries (see map) . But for the International Year of Astronomy this may change with the following initiative. Globe at Night allows astronomers to easily assess the phenomenon with a series of charts. By watching the Orion Constellation, it is simple to […]

Assessing and ending light pollution Read More »

The motivating example of the Montreal Protocol

In 1988 was signed the Montreal Protocol, which restricted the use of CFC – ChloroFluoroCarbons – gases that harm the ozone layer, our sole protection against UV rays. To the NASA this was a tremendous success as large troubles have been avoided. Without this success, our world could suffer of massive DNA mutations induced by

The motivating example of the Montreal Protocol Read More »

Did oil production peaked in 2008 ?

To this article of the Oil Drum world oil production peaked in 2008. Even if there is no 100 percent certainty, such a fact could represent another sign of the end of the world as we see it. Indeed, after the increasing global pressure on water resources, massive pollution and climate change, peak oil is

Did oil production peaked in 2008 ? Read More »

The fifth World Water Forum

This week in Istanbul, Turkey, around 15,000 water specialists are meeting for the fifth World Water Forum. This occurs as water scarcity is increasing and is due to keep on doing so around the world. With the goal of bridging divides over water, this forum will tackle international issues as water scarcity is at the

The fifth World Water Forum Read More »

Why CCS won’t solve the climate change problem

The French magazine Science et Vie published this month a most interesting article on why Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) won’t be able to deliver all its promises of mitigating climate change. Indeed to many international scientific experts putting carbon to the ground is too risky, too expansive, too little and… too late ! This

Why CCS won’t solve the climate change problem Read More »

Blue Mars, by Kim Stanley Robinson

I finished in January the last part of the Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars Trilogy. After two months I still keep thinking about this book and its great plot, fantastic characters and awesome story telling. If my favorite book for 2007 was Collapse, there is no doubt  that the Mars Trilogy will be the books I

Blue Mars, by Kim Stanley Robinson Read More »

How to say goodbye to bottled water

Last month I did a step further towards sustainability by saying goodbye to bottled water as I bought a Brita water filter. I could have went straight to tap water but concerns over the plumbing of our old house prevented me to do so. Doing so enables to avoid massive oil consumption for both the

How to say goodbye to bottled water Read More »

Worst IPCC predictions are already taking place

To the Copenhagen Climate Congress preparing the meeting at the end of the year on the future of the Kyoto Protocol, the worst IPCC projected scenario is already taking place. The International Panel on Climate Change noted in 2007 that we needed to act now as the most optimistic scenario is already worrying enough. With

Worst IPCC predictions are already taking place Read More »

Halving transport sector CO2 emissions by 2050

The UNEP and the IEA launched last week an interesting initiative to halve the amount of oil consumed by cars by 2050. Even if this seem interesting as it due to cut by six billion barrels per year the oil consumption, I am wondering. Indeed: even if the demand for cars is due to explode,

Halving transport sector CO2 emissions by 2050 Read More »

India goes deeper into climate change mitigation

To my regret, I don’t write much on how India is willing to mitigate climate change as I lack information. But today’s the occasion to repair this as I came across two different articles on how the world’s largest democracy is working on this issue. The country will indeed replace by 2012 400 millions of

India goes deeper into climate change mitigation Read More »