Sustainability Momentum Sdn Bhd

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).

                                                                                                                                   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.

                                                                                                    
                                                                                 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.

                                                                                  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.

                                                                      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.