Sustainability Momentum Sdn Bhd


Bhutan’s Capital to be transformed into Electric Vehicle City

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay announced that Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, will become an electric vehicle hotspot in the coming years. The plan will begin by replacing government vehicles with the electric car Nissan Leaf. Electric cars assembled locally by ThunderMotors will then continue to replace gasoline / diesel taxis and private family cars. In addition to environmental benefits, this bold move would also improve the country’s economy because it will no longer need to import expensive fossil fuel and will instead utilise its cheap hydroelectric to power the electric cars. By converting to an electric vehicle, taxi drivers in Thimphu would only need to pay 10 ngultrum (16 cents) a day on fuel compared to the current 800 ngultrum ($13).

Link: http://csabusiness.com/bhutan-plans-become-electric-vehicles-hotspot/

Date and Source: 29 November 2013, Central and South Asia Business

UK’s Legal Obligation to Install 70,000 Electric Vehicle Charging Points by 2020

                                                         electricV
                                                                                             Picture Source: Alamy


The European parliament has endorsed a draft directive that aims to reduce the dependence on oil and boost the acceptance of alternative fuel, in order to achieve a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector by 2050. The EU draft directive would require member states to set their targets to develop their own publicly available networks of electric vehicle recharging points (EVRP) and fuel stations for alternative fuels by 2020. Currently, UK is legally obligated to install a minimum of 70,000 EVRP by 2020. However, Italy and Germany have set their target at 72,000 and 86,000 EVRP installations respectively.

Source: November 26, 2013 – Click Green UK

Link:http://www.clickgreen.org.uk/news/national-news/124057-uk-ordered-to-install-70%2C000-electric-vehicle-charging-points-by-2020.html

Living Green Roof that Works! An Example from Ford Motor’s Plant

                                      ford plant
                                                                Picture Source: thinkpictureproductions.blogpsot.com


In 2003, 4.16ha of roof area at Ford Motor’s Plant in Dearborn, Michigan was transformed into a sustainable green roof. The green roof has contributed to the company’s eco image while successfully providing key habitats for local indigenous birds. The green roof has a very long lifespan (up to 70 years) and provides the building owners with various cost, operations and environmental benefits when compared to a conventional roof. Ford’s green roof has already managed to reduce the building’s management costs while addressing to ecological and environmental concerns.

Source: November 25, 2013 – The Star Online Newspaper

Link:http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Environment/2013/11/25/A-roof-that-grows.aspx

Mapping Malaysia’s Forest to Understand Climate Change Impacts

                                            Forest
                                                                                    Picture Source: danumvalley.info


The Royal Society’s South East Asia Rainforest Research Program (SEARRP) in collaboration with the Centre for Tropical Science (CFTS) has been conducting baseline research in Sabah’s Danum Valley Conservation Area since 2010. The Danum Valley research plots covers 50ha lowland forest with measurements from 250,000 – 300,000 trees. The research is intended to investigate the role of the rainforest as a carbon-capturing agent whereby two possible scenarios are predicted. In the first scenario, the forests are expected to grow faster and would capture more CO2 gases from the atmosphere. However, scenario two predicted that the intense drought may imbalance the ecosystem and would change the structural composition of the landscape. In conclusion, data mapping our rainforests would help us understand how they are affected by climate change.

Source: November 25, 2013 – The Star Online Newspaper

Link:http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Environment/2013/11/25/Scrutiny-on-trees.aspx

Student Pioneered Sustainable Helmets for Cyclist

                                                                                   helmet
                                                                                      Picture Source: jamesdart


A graduate student from University of Brighton has developed a sustainable ‘Duo Lin’ helmet for cyclists. The helmet is primarily made from flax plant which replaces conventional chemical based plastics. The interior of the helmet is made from bio resin flax foam and the exterior is made from a combination of hardener, bio resin and woven flax. The bio resin is made from linseed oil from the flax plant. Initial trials have shown that the helmet is tough and resilient with the ability to absorb and dissipate impact. 

Source: October 21, 2013 – Click Green UK

Link:http://www.clickgreen.org.uk/product/directory/123966-student-develops-first-sustainable-cycle-helmet.html

Capitalizing on Mangrove Trees

                                                   mangrove                                                                                Picture Credit: Paul from PoJoGo

Coastal mangrove trees are able to absorb the force of the waves from storms and thus protect the coastline from erosion. However, the ability of mangrove trees to protect the coastline from catastrophic events such as typhoons and large tsunamis is debatable. Regardless, since the 2004 tsunami of Aceh, replanting of 5000ha of mangroves in the north of Sumatra has commenced with the additional feature of allowing Indonesian companies to buy credits to voluntarily offset their greenhouse gas emissions. The mangrove forests provides habitat for fish and crabs which has led to higher catches for the fishing community.

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/tsunami-blocking-mangroves-lure-carbon-investors-southeast-asia.html

Date and Source: November 20, 2013 – The Bloomberg News

From Abandoned to Loved – A Repurposed Green Public Space

                                                   green public                                                 
                                                                                 Photo Credit: On-Hudson.com

An abandoned elevated railway in New York dating back to the 1960s almost faced demolition in 1999. However, it is considered as one of the most innovative and inviting green public spaces today with its sustainable development practices. Now, the railway has become a home for at least 300 species of plants some of which are indigenous to New York. The project is not only a new urban habitat for various plants, insects and birds but also functions as a green roof to retain rainwater and provides mediation to reduce the heat island effect in the city.

Link: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Environment/2013/11/18/Garden-in-the-Sky.aspx

Date and Source: November 18, 2013 – The Malaysian Star Newspaper

Another use for LED Lighting: Enhance Lettuce Quality and Yield

led use                                                                                  Photo Credit: Tinyfarmblog                                

Scientists from Chungbuk National University in Korea have successfully researched the benefits of blue and red LED for lettuce farming in a closed-type plant production system. The blue and red LEDs are chosen because the chlorophyll in the plants absorbs the emitted wavelengths more effectively in the blue and red ranges. Tests show that combinations of both red and blue LED are needed to provide the optimal crop quality and yield.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131119101108.htm

Date and Source: November 19, 2013 - ScienceDaily

World’s GHG Reached New Record Breaking Heights in 2012

ghg                                                                      Picture Credit: US Department of State 1992

Radiative forcing (climate warming effect) has increased by 32% between 1990 and 2012. This is the result of the increased global average concentrations of CO2, methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. Since the start of the industrial era in 1750, the GHG concentrations have increased by 41% for CO2, 160% for methane and 20% for nitrous oxide. The atmospheric concentrations of these gases are at levels unseen in at least 800,000 years with significant impact predicted on the planet’s basic life sustaining capabilities by the end of this century.

Link: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Environment/2013/11/18/New-highs-for-GHG.aspx

Date and Source: November 18, 2013 – The Malaysian Star Newspaper

Is Climate Change Causing Extreme Weather Occurrence Like The Super Typhoon Haiyan in Philippines?

                                                                       haiyan
                                                                                   Photocredit: Erik de Castro, Reuters
                                                                  Video: The heartfelt speech from the Philippines Diplomat
                                                                                     

Naderev Sano, a Philippines diplomat, addressed the UN diplomats in Warsaw with an extraordinary and passionate speech based on the recent tragedy of typhoon Haiyan. He clearly linked the effects of climate change to the super typhoon Haiyan during his speech, which has later reopened growing debates on extreme weather occurrence around the globe over the past few years. Perspectives and views from different agencies and countries were discussed in the article with evidences but there is not enough data collected to make a final statement on the relationship. However, Sano has called for a redefinition of “disaster” to accommodate the changes in the world today.

Source: November 13, 2013; The Guardian