Posts Tagged ‘States’

Hyde GUARDIAN® Ballast Water Treatment System Earns Alternate Management System Approval from United States Coast Guard

Posted by admin on April 15th, 2013

PITTSBURGH–()–Calgon Carbon Corporation (NYSE: CCC) announced today that its Hyde
GUARDIAN® Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS), developed
and manufactured by its wholly owned subsidiary, Hyde Marine, Inc.,
became one of the first BWTS to earn Alternate Management System (AMS)
approval from the United States Coast Guard (USCG).

“Ship owners and operators seeking to mitigate downtime
and ensure timely vessel compliance are encouraged to place orders for
BWT systems now before the supply of accepted systems becomes strained”

AMS approval is a first step to achieving full USCG Type Approval and is
an interim measure that allows a BWTS to be used on a vessel for five
years after the vessel is required to comply with the USCG Ballast Water
Discharge Standards. The five-year period is designed to allow the BWTS
manufacturer sufficient time to obtain U.S. Type Approval and to ensure
the ship operator’s compliance with U.S. ballast water regulations.

Most vessels operating in U.S. waters with ballast capacities between
1500 m³/hr and 5000 m³/hr will be required to meet USCG Ballast Water
Discharge Standards by the time of their first major drydocking after
January 1, 2014. “Ship owners and operators seeking to mitigate downtime
and ensure timely vessel compliance are encouraged to place orders for
BWT systems now before the supply of accepted systems becomes strained,”
said John Platz, Vice President, Hyde Marine.

To receive AMS approval from the Coast Guard, a BWTS must have been
previously type approved by a foreign administration in accordance with
the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’
Ballast Water and Sediments, and the Coast Guard must find the testing
performed on the system credible.

With more than 100 years in the maritime industry and pioneering
development of ballast water treatment technologies, Hyde Marine has
become a leading U.S. manufacturer and educator on the regulations,
technologies, installation experiences, and challenges facing this
sector. Since its initial launch in 1998, the Hyde GUARDIAN®
BWTS has rapidly emerged as an industry leader featuring mechanical
separation with stacked-disc filtration followed by UV disinfection –
with more than 240 Hyde GUARDIAN units sold to date for installation in
various ship types and sizes around the world.

In April 2009, the Hyde GUARDIAN® BWTS became one of the
first systems to receive IMO Type Approval. It was also the first BWTS
accepted into the U.S. Coast Guard’s Shipboard Technology Evaluation
Program (STEP), which facilitates the development of effective BWTS
technologies for vessel owners seeking alternatives to ballast water
exchange. STEP participation is available to all foreign and domestic
vessels subject to the Coast Guard’s Ballast Water Management (BWM)
regulations.

The Hyde GUARDIAN BWTS was tested and validated at the Royal Netherlands
Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), one of the most challenging ballast
water test facilities in the world, and proved to meet IMO G8 Guidelines
and demonstrated reliable performance in difficult operating conditions.

The chemical free Hyde GUARDIAN BWT process uses efficient, automatic
backflushing depth filtration to remove sediment and organisms combined
with a powerful ultraviolet disinfection system to prevent the spread of
aquatic invasive species. Hyde GUARDIAN BWTS offers a compact, modular
design with low power consumption, low pressure drop, and simple, fully
automatic operation, making it a technically attractive solution for any
type of vessel.

In commenting on the AMS designation, Platz said, “With the release of
the U.S. Coast Guard’s final ballast water regulation and along with the
pending ratification of the IMO BWM Convention, ship owners are on a
strict timeline to install proven BWT technology to bring their vessels
into compliance. The USCG’s determination that the Hyde GUARDIAN system
is a viable AMS solution validates our ongoing commitment to help the
maritime industry achieve ballast water treatment compliance.”

Visit www.hydemarine.com
for more information about Hyde Marine’s ballast water management
solutions.

For more information about Calgon Carbon’s leading activated carbon and
ultraviolet technology solutions for municipalities and industries,
visit www.calgoncarbon.com.

Calgon Carbon Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is
a global leader in services and solutions for making water and air safer
and cleaner.

This news release contains historical information and forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements typically contain words such as
“expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” or similar words
indicating that future outcomes are uncertain. Statements looking
forward in time, including statements regarding future growth and
profitability, price increases, cost savings, broader product lines,
enhanced competitive posture and acquisitions, are included in the
company’s most recent Annual Report pursuant to the “safe harbor”
provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the
company’s actual results in future periods to be materially different
from any future performance suggested herein. Further, the
company operates in an industry sector where securities values may be
volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond the
company’s control. Some of the factors that could affect future
performance of the company are changes in, or delays in the
implementation of, regulations that cause a market for our products,
acquisitions, higher energy and raw material costs, costs of imports and
related tariffs, labor relations, capital and environmental
requirements, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, borrowing
restrictions, validity of patents and other intellectual property, and
pension costs. In the context of the forward-looking information
provided in this news release, please refer to the discussions of risk
factors and other information detailed in, as well as the other
information contained in the company’s most recent Annual Report.

Business Wire Environment News

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$816 Million Jury Verdict for New Hampshire Over MTBE Contamination of State’s Drinking Water

Posted by admin on April 10th, 2013

CONCORD, N.H.–()–After a three month trial – the longest in state court history – a New
Hampshire jury took less than two hours to find unanimously that
ExxonMobil was negligent in supplying over 2 billion gallons of MTBE
gasoline that resulted in widespread contamination of the state’s
drinking water. The jury awarded the state total damages of $ 816 million
– ExxonMobil will pay 28.94% (its market share), which is $ 236,372,664.

“The trial was about whether ExxonMobil designed a defective product,
failed to warn about the increased dangers of MTBE and disregarded the
advice its own environmental experts”

“The trial was about whether ExxonMobil designed a defective product,
failed to warn about the increased dangers of MTBE and disregarded the
advice its own environmental experts,” said Jessica Grant of Sher Leff,
lead trial attorney for the State of New Hampshire in this matter. “The
finding of ExxonMobil’s negligence is particularly important because it
shows the jury understood that this problem could have been avoided.”

In the trial which began on January 14, 2013, the State of New Hampshire
was seeking clean up costs relating to the contamination of New
Hampshire’s drinking water with MTBE – a gasoline additive classified by
the EPA as a “possible human carcinogen” that was banned in New
Hampshire in 2007. The State sued to hold ExxonMobil liable for its
share of the clean-up costs, based on the fact that the company supplied
over 2.7 billion gallons of MTBE gasoline into New Hampshire, which
accounts for nearly 1/3 of the state’s gasoline market.

The state originally sued 26 oil companies in 2003 over the
contamination of the State’s drinking water by the gasoline additive
MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether). The State previously settled with
all other parties but ExxonMobil – collecting more than $ 130 million for
MTBE cleanup from the other defendants.

Evidence showed that ExxonMobil’s own environmental experts advised in
the 1980’s against adding MTBE to ExxonMobil’s gasoline because it
travels farther in groundwater than gasoline without MTBE and is
resistant to biodegradation, which significantly increases the potential
for contaminating much larger volumes of water. Although ExxonMobil
contends that the use of MTBE was mandated by the EPA to curb air
pollution, the Clean Air Act Amendments are oxygenate neutral, leaving
it up to the oil companies as to which oxygenate to use.

Experts for the State estimate that over 40,000 New Hampshire drinking
water wells are contaminated with MTBE and that 5,590 wells have levels
of MTBE that are above the State’s safe drinking water standard. The
State was also seeking costs to clean up 228 high risk sites where MTBE
has contaminated the soil and groundwater.

New Hampshire is the only state to have reached the trial stage in a
suit over MTBE gasoline and is trying the case on a statewide basis.
Other lawsuits brought by water districts, cities and individual well
owners have ended in settlements. Lawyers from Sher Leff won a $ 250
million federal jury verdict in 2009 on behalf of New York City for MTBE
contamination of city wells, which is currently on appeal – Exxon
Mobil’s share of damages in that case was $ 105 million.

The case is State of New Hampshire v. Hess Corp., 03- C-0550, New
Hampshire Superior Court, Merrimack County (Concord)

Business Wire Environment News

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California American Water Partners with United States Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense Program for “Fix a Leak Week”

Posted by admin on March 15th, 2013

SAN DIEGO–()–California American Water has partnered with the EPA to promote its
annual “Fix a Leak Week” campaign, starting March 18-24. Little leaks
can be a big problem. The average American house hold can waste 11,000
gallons of water each year due to running toilets, faucets and common
household leaks. These minor leaks account for more than 1 trillion
gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes, according to the EPA.

First created five years ago by the EPA, “Fix a Leak Week” brings
awareness to homeowners to check plumbing fixtures and irrigation
systems for small leaks and other water waste that may be occurring
within their homes. Small, leaky faucets and garden hoses may not seem
like a big problem to an individual homeowner. However, these minor
leaks add up to vast amounts of water wasted each year. Through the “Fix
a Leak Week” campaign, California American Water is encouraging its
customers to repair dripping faucets, running toilets, and leaky
showerheads.

California American Water recommends using the following tips to help
detect and repair leaks:

  • Leaky toilets are most often the result of a worn toilet flapper.
    Replacing the rubber flapper is a quick fix that could save a home up
    to 200 gallons of water per day.
  • Reduce faucet leaks by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear
    and, if necessary, replace the faucet with a WaterSense-labeled model.
  • For a leaky garden hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and
    ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.
  • Landscape irrigation systems should be checked each spring before use
    to make sure they were not damaged over the winter and checked monthly
    when in use.

Generally, these leaks are very small and are easy and inexpensive to
repair and can save thousands of gallons of water per household each
year.

California American Water, a longtime partner of the WaterSense program,
offers customers a variety of programs, incentives and rebates to help
customers reduce their water use.

All California American Water districts provide free conservation kits
with tools like toilet leak detection kits, low-flow showerheads and
garden hose nozzles and information about water efficient landscaping.
Customers are encouraged to contact California American Water’s 24-hour
customer service center at 1-888-237-1333 to request conservation
devices and materials.

In addition, customers can follow California American Water on Facebook
at caamwater
and Twitter at @caamwater
to receive timely conservation updates throughout the year.

For more information on Fix a Leak Week, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak.

California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK),
provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to
approximately 600,000 people.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S.
water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees,
N.J., the company employs approximately 6,700 dedicated professionals
who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an
estimated 14 million people in more than 30 states and parts of Canada.
More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

Business Wire Environment News

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Canada Continues to Align Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measures with the United States

Posted by admin on February 26th, 2013

Canada Continues to Align Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measures with the United States. MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – February 25, 2013 – Today the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister, announced final regulations to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new on-road heavy-duty vehicles and engines. This is another step in our plan to align our environmental regulations with the United States.
News Releases

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SKECHERS Distribution Center Certified as Largest LEED Gold Building in the United States

Posted by admin on February 19th, 2013

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.–()–SKECHERS USA, Inc. (NYSE:SKX) today announced that its North American
distribution center in Rancho Belago, California has been officially
certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. Designed and
built by developer Highland Fairview to the highest environmental
standards, the 1.82 million-square-foot SKECHERS facility is the largest
LEED certified building in the United States to have received this honor.

“In addition to efficiently distributing our product across
North America, the SKECHERS Rancho Belago facility is an outstanding
example of how large corporations can grow their business while also
promoting Earth-friendly practices. We’re proud of the design innovation
and ‘green’ features that can be found throughout the facility.”

“SKECHERS is committed to growing its business in a way that conserves
natural resources, protects the environment and reduces waste,” said
David Weinberg, SKECHERS Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial
Officer. “In addition to efficiently distributing our product across
North America, the SKECHERS Rancho Belago facility is an outstanding
example of how large corporations can grow their business while also
promoting Earth-friendly practices. We’re proud of the design innovation
and ‘green’ features that can be found throughout the facility.”

“We are honored to receive this unique recognition. A LEED Gold
designation is a tremendous achievement for any size project and to be
recognized for the largest most advanced sustainable development of its
kind in the U.S. is especially rewarding,” said Highland Fairview
President and Chief Executive Officer Iddo Benzeevi.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for
commercial buildings involves a scorecard that evaluates several
categories: sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere,
materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation.
The SKECHERS distribution center, which received its certification on
December 28, 2012, earned 41 points from this scorecard to secure LEED
Gold certification. Key features include:

  • 280,000 square-feet of solar power generation systems on the roof.
  • Lighting that operates as needed, regulated by motion sensors and
    powered in part by solar panels.
  • A warehouse ventilation system that utilizes outside air drawn through
    louvers facing the prevailing winds, plus energy efficient heating and
    cooling systems.
  • A solar reflective white “cool roof” and light colored on-site
    pavement to help reduce heat and global warming.
  • Water efficient and drought tolerant landscaping that reduces
    irrigation by 50 percent.
  • A Water Pollution Prevention Program that captures and treats storm
    water runoff from 90 percent of annual rainfall.
  • Low-emitting paints, coatings, glues, and sealants that comply with
    LEED standards were used during construction.
  • Recycled and regional building materials were sourced within 500 miles
    of the construction site. The majority of on-site construction waste
    materials were recycled as well.

Weinberg added: “With the capacity to annually ship 100-million pairs of
shoes, this state-of-the-art automated facility will allow us to
efficiently grow our business with reduced impact to the environment.
And, with the addition of a SKECHERS retail store at the site, we can
service the local community.”

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the SKECHERS distribution
center took place in March 2010, and was attended by then governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the building opened for operation in November
2011. In addition to the warehouse operations – which can process 18,000
to 20,000 pairs of shoes for distribution in one hour – the structure
includes 20,000 square-feet of office space and a SKECHERS retail store.

ABOUT SKECHERS USA, INC.

SKECHERS USA, Inc. (NYSE: SKX), based in Manhattan Beach, California,
designs, develops and markets a diverse range of footwear for men, women
and children under the SKECHERS name. SKECHERS footwear is available in
the United States via department and specialty stores, Company-owned
SKECHERS retail stores and its e-commerce website, and over 100
countries and territories through the Company’s global network of
distributors and subsidiaries in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Japan, and
across Europe, as well as through joint ventures in Asia. For more
information, please visit www.skechers.com,
and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SKECHERS)
and Twitter (twitter.com/SKECHERSUSA).

ABOUT Highland Fairview

Highland Fairview is a privately held real estate development company
specializing in the development of large scale, industrial, commercial
and residential projects. Highland Fairview and its affiliate companies
currently own approximately five square miles of properties within
Southern California which are in various stages of development. Highland
Fairview’s is committed to sustainable development through its
Full-Life-Cycle approach to development

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements that are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include,
without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate
or simply state future results, performance or achievements, and can be
identified by the use of forward looking language such as “believe,”
“anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “will
be,” “will continue,” “will result,” “could,” “may,” “might,” or any
variations of such words with similar meanings. Any such statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements.
Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include
international, national and local general economic, political and market
conditions including the ongoing global economic slowdown and market
instability; entry into the highly competitive performance footwear
market; sustaining, managing and forecasting costs and proper inventory
levels; losing any significant customers, decreased demand by industry
retailers and cancellation of order commitments due to the lack of
popularity of particular designs and/or categories of products;
maintaining brand image and intense competition among sellers of
footwear for consumers; anticipating, identifying, interpreting or
forecasting changes in fashion trends, consumer demand for the products
and the various market factors described above; sales levels during the
spring, back-to-school and holiday selling seasons; and other factors
referenced or incorporated by reference in the Company’s annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and its quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The
risks included here are not exhaustive. The Company operates in a
very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from
time to time and the companies cannot predict all such risk factors, nor
can the companies assess the impact of all such risk factors on their
respective businesses or the extent to which any factor, or combination
of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and
uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements as a prediction of actual results. Moreover, reported results
should not be considered an indication of future performance.

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Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Caribbean Small Island Developing States: Integrating Local and External Knowledge

Posted by admin on January 30th, 2013

Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are vulnerable to climate change impacts including sea level rise, invasive species, ocean acidification, changes in rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, and changing hazard regimes including hurricanes, floods and drought. Given high dependencies in Caribbean SIDS on natural resources for livelihoods, a focus on ecosystems and their interaction with people is essential for climate change adaptation. Increasingly, ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approaches are being highlighted as an approach to address climate change impacts. Specifically, EbA encourages the use of local and external knowledge about ecosystems to identify climate change adaptation approaches. This paper critically reviews EbA in Caribbean SIDS, focusing on the need to integrate local and external knowledge. An analysis of current EbA in the Caribbean is undertaken alongside a review of methodologies used to integrate local and external expertise for EbA.

Environment

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United States Geological Survey Reports Increases in Both Domestic Consumption and Prices Paid for Graphite

Posted by admin on January 18th, 2013

SOURCE: USA Graphite Inc.

USA Graphite Inc.

LAS VEGAS, NV–(Marketwire – Jan 18, 2013) – USA GRAPHITE INC. (OTCQB: USGT) (or “the Company”) is pleased to share with its shareholders the 2012 United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) report on graphite.

The USGS report, released earlier this week, reports “Although natural graphite was not produced in the United States in 2011, approximately 90 U.S. firms, primarily in the Northeastern and Great Lakes regions, used it for a wide variety of applications. The major uses of natural graphite in 2011 were estimated to be refractory applications and crucibles combined, 33%; foundry operations and steelmaking combined, 26%; brake linings, 7%; batteries and lubricants combined, 5%; and other applications, 29%.”

The USGS has also reported a gross increase of more than 7% on domestic imports of graphite for consumption from 2010 to 2011. During this period, prices paid for flake graphite, lump and chip graphite, and amorphous graphite have all increased as well.

The USGS reports: (Data in thousand metric tons unless otherwise noted)

Salient Statistics–United States: 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011e
Production, mine – – – – –
Imports for consumption 59 58 33 65 70
Exports 16 8 11 6 7
Consumption, apparent 43 50 22 60 63
Price, imports (average dollars per ton at foreign ports):          
  Flake 499 753 694 720 1,170
  Lump and chip (Sri Lankan) 2,219 2,550 1,410 1,700 2,070
  Amorphous 150 203 249 257 299
Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption 100 100 100 100 100

Import Sources (2007-10): China, 51%; Mexico, 20%; Canada, 19%; Brazil, 6%; and other, 4%.

Events, Trends, and Issues: Worldwide demand for graphite slowly began to increase during the last half of 2009 and continued increasing steadily throughout 2010 and into 2011. This increase resulted from the improvement of global economic conditions and its impact on industries that use graphite. Principal import sources of natural graphite were, in descending order of tonnage, China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, and Madagascar, which combined accounted for 99% of the tonnage and 92% of the value of total imports. Mexico provided all the amorphous graphite, and Sri Lanka provided all the lump and chippy dust variety. China, Canada, and Brazil were, in descending order of tonnage, the major suppliers of crystalline flake and flake dust graphite.

During 2011, China produced the majority of the world’s graphite, and China’s graphite production is expected to continue to increase.

World Resources: Domestic resources of graphite are relatively small, but the rest of the world’s inferred resources exceed 800 million tons of recoverable graphite.

Advances in thermal technology and acid-leaching techniques that enable the production of higher purity graphite powders are likely to lead to development of new applications for graphite in high-technology fields. Such innovative refining techniques have enabled the use of improved graphite in carbon-graphite composites, electronics, foils, friction materials, and special lubricant applications. Flexible graphite product lines, such as graphoil (a thin graphite cloth), are likely to be the fastest growing market. Large-scale fuel-cell applications are being developed that could consume as much graphite as all other uses combined.

Mr. Wayne Y. Yamamoto, President and CEO of USA Graphite, comments; “The 2012 USGS report reinforces the Company’s position on the graphite market. Demand for graphite is growing exponentially as technologies requiring graphite and by-products of graphite are rapidly increasing. Domestic consumption of graphite is reported to be at a five year high. Further, the USA continues to pay record prices for 100% of its consumption, sending fortunes to China, Mexico and Canada. USA Graphite is committed to sourcing multiple large tonnage supplies of graphite in America for the American market.”

About Graphite:

  • Graphite is used in refractories — used to line high-temperature equipment; pencils; lithium-ion batteries — used in consumer electronics and electric vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S and others; fuel cells; and Pebble Bed nuclear reactors. It is used in foundries, lubricants and brake linings.
  • Graphite is also used to produce graphene, a tightly packed single layer of carbon atoms that can be used to make inexpensive solar panels, powerful transistors, and even a wafer-thin tablet that could be the next-generation iPad* or iPod*.
  • Graphene, extremely light and strong, has been called the world’s next wonder material.
  • The closure of graphite mines in China, which produces 75% of the world’s graphite, has resulted in a fall in global graphite production to 1.3 million tonnes per annum in 2011. Like rare earths, China is restricting the export of graphite to protect its own domestic industries. The second largest producer is India, followed by Brazil, North Korea, Austria and Canada.

*trademarks of Apple Inc.

About USA Graphite:

USA Graphite is a publicly traded US exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of world-class graphite properties in North America. USA Graphite intends to become a domestic (US) graphite supplier. The USGS has reported that the USA has been a 100% net importer of graphite over the last 5 years, sending billions of dollars out of America. USA Graphite has holdings in Nevada, offering considerable potential for the discovery and development of large flake, high-grade graphite, whereby mineralization is exposed at surface and clearly evident at economic depths. For additional information please visit http://www.usa-graphite.com

“Safe Harbor” Statement:

Under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements in the press release that relate to the Company’s expectations with regard to the future impact on the Company’s results from new products in development are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements -This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the success of the programs it is commercializing and developing. Further, the risks involve the ability of the Company to raise capital to fund its operations and the capital requirements for the development and marketing of its products. Investors are encouraged to review the risk factors listed or described from time to time in the Company’s filings (10K, 10Qs, S-1 and others) with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Marketwire – Environment

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Horse Show in the Sun Beckons Coachella Valley Home Buyers States Brad…

Posted by admin on December 7th, 2012

Palm Springs, California (PRWEB) December 07, 2012

Brad Schmett, Broker Associate with Luxury Homes by Keller Williams, today announced that the local real estate communities of the Coachella Valley from the east to the west ends are expecting six of the busiest weeks of the year thanks to the “Horse Show in the Sun” (HITS) third annual million dollar Grand Prix set for January 24-March 11, 2013 in Thermal, CA.

Palm Springs is proud and honored to host the fabulous horse show at Desert Horse Park, a 230 acre state-of-the-art facility and one of the largest equestrian venues in the United States, happily located right here in the Coachella Valley. Since its 2010 inception HITS has been acclaimed worldwide as a premium horse show. One of a series that also occurs in Ocala, Florida and Arizona this particular show is known for its exhibition of the three richest Hunter/Jumper classes in the United States.

Brad Schmett, a horse lover himself commented, “This is an exciting opportunity for the Palm Springs area. Every year this show has grown as the demand for boarding and stabling has increased. Equestrians will visit from all over the world so we fully expect that luxury homes as vacation and second residences will be in high demand. HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal is one of the largest and most well-equipped in the country so there is plenty of room to keep and ride horses. With the six-week run time there is ample opportunity for the equestrians to shop for real estate. We look forward to greeting them.”

With champion riders, sleek thoroughbreds, and a whopping 16 Grand Prix events this show promises the chills and thrills of a world-class event. Look for great food, plenty of music, and shopping for Western Wear, horse portraits, custom-made jewelry, and lots more fun for folks who love horses. Plan to come and spend the day or several days with luxury and budget lodging readily available if you require it.

For more information on HITS 2013 visit http://www.hitsshows.com.

To find out more about investing in Palm Springs, CA real estate visit http://www.PalmSpringsRealEstateInfo.com

About Luxury Homes by Keller Williams: Luxury Homes by Keller Williams – Palm Springs, is an exclusive, elite and sophisticated group of real estate consultants raising the bar for service in the upper-tier Palm Springs area residential real estate market.



Environment

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Led by Low-lying Island States, “Discussion Group” Formed on HFC Phase-down Under Montreal Protocol Islands get further support from climate vulnerable African countries “No Need to Reinvent the Wheel”

Posted by admin on November 16th, 2012

Geneva – Working in the shadow of the global climate negotiations, which resume later this month, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Stratospheric Ozone Layer held their annual meeting in Geneva this week, wrapping up today.  First among their concerns has been how to control HFCs, factory-made super greenhouse gases that the Protocol has inadvertently encouraged companies to start using as substitutes for the chemicals the Protocol is phasing out, to the great detriment of the climate.


While China and India have remained reluctant to launch formal negotiations to phase down HFCs, the majority of Parties recognized the need for urgent action to slow climate change and agreed for the first time to establish a “discussion group” to address HFCs, a group of super greenhouse gases that are hundreds to thousands of times more powerful as warming agents than carbon dioxide. 


The Africa Group supported this move. Benin delegate, Mr. Marcos Wabi, president of the group confirmed that, “The African Group welcomes further discussion of phasing down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol.”


Many countries, including South Africa and Nigeria, suggested going further, supporting a “contact group” to launch formal negotiations.  South Africa noted that HFCs are amenable to a phase-down of their production and consumption, which is the approach taken by the Montreal Protocol, and suggested that the treaty was suitable for addressing HFCs. South Africa further noted that there is no need to “reinvent the wheel” by developing such a phase-down under the primary climate treaty, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which aims to reduce the downstream emissions of greenhouse gases, not to phase down their upstream production and use.


Referring to the HFC phase down proposals on the table at the negotiations, the delegate from Nigeria stated her hope that countries, would be able to, “make good progress on proposals that aim to control the emission of HFCs.”


The most impassioned plea for fast action on HFCs came from the Minister of Environment and Energy from the Republic of Maldives, Dr. Mariyam Shakeela, who stated:


It was revoltingly shocking to, to hear some countries say, that this is not the right forum to address this issue. Ladies and gentleman, for countries like Maldives, who are on the front line of climate change impacts every forum is a right forum. We have no choice. No time to spare. So please do not say that this is not the right forum to address what impacts global warming when actions that are promoted in this very forum has negative impacts on climate change affecting lives and livelihood. It is morally wrong not to acknowledge it and address it. … Montreal protocol, Ladies and gentleman, has been hailed for the tremendous climate benefits it has already achieved. Therefore, I urge those who are blind to the inherent link between ozone protection and climate change, not to turn the Montreal Protocol, to a vehicle that promotes HFCs on the premise that other UN Conventions will take care of the problem we have created here. That would be the height of irresponsibility.


The Russian Federation, recalling their early leadership on the Montreal Protocol and continuing concern for atmospheric protection, played an important role in the negotiations this week. Their suggestion to form an informal panel to discuss the HFC proposals provided the breakthrough that allowed Parties to explain their concerns and propose solutions.


Reflecting on the past and future of the agreement, Mr. Sergey Vasiliev from the Russian Federation said, “The Russian Federation is proud of its early leadership to address ozone depletion within the Montreal Protocol.  We have a high opinion of the Protocol’s approach to phasing out production and consumption and its funding mechanism. Therefore, we understand Parties’ desire to use the Protocol’s experience and existing mechanisms, specifically in regulating the use of HFCs. We encourage Parties to consider how the Protocol can be used to make progress on limiting the growth in production of HFCs.” 


He continued, “The Parties who have been reluctant to add HFCs are coming around with suggestions. The Russian Federation would welcome an opportunity to discuss whether a future period of freezing production and consumption of HFCs would be technically and economically feasible as a preliminary step before adoption of more specific controls to phase down and a grace period for A5 and CEIT Parties.”


Also urging action under the Montreal Protocol, Mr. Chakour Abderrahim, the head of the Moroccan delegation, said, “The phase down of HFCs under Montreal Protocol is a logical continuation of the phase-out cycle for other fluorinated gases. Understanding the urgency posed by climate change, the Kingdom of Morocco believes that the Montreal Protocol is the competent body and the suitable platform to tackle the issue of HFC production and consumption.”  Morocco joined the Federated States of Micronesia as co-sponsor of a formal HFC phase-down amendment.


“The Montreal Protocol is now a step closer to getting out of the old HFC technology,” said Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development. “The forward looking Parties know that phasing down HFCs is not only right for climate protection, but also for their industries, which need to focus on the new replacement technologies to stay competitive.”  This is especially true in light of a recent proposal to strengthen European rules on HFCs and other fluorinated gases.


Since 2011, 108 Parties to the Montreal Protocol have signed the Bangkok Declaration calling for the currently used HCFCs to be replaced with chemicals that have a low impact on global warming, rather than HFCs.  In Brazil earlier this year more than a hundred heads of state signed the Rio+20 declaration, The Future We Want, supporting an HFC phase-down.

The Montreal Protocol has phased out 97% of the production and use of nearly 100 ozone-depleting substances (ODS), and set the stratospheric ozone layer on the path to mid-century recovery. Because many ODS are powerful greenhouse gases, the Protocol has also provided critical climate mitigation equivalent to 135 billion tonnes of CO2, in contrast to 5 to 10 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent under the Kyoto Protocol during its first commitment period, which ends this year.


HFCs are used in refrigeration, air conditioning and insulating foams, and are the fastest growing greenhouse gases in many countries including the US, where they grew nearly 9% between 2009 and 2010.  Global growth is 10 to 15% per year.


In addition to the formal proposal to phase-down HFCs production and use from the Federated States of Micronesia and Morocco, the United States, Canada and Mexico also submitted a formal proposal.  These were the starting point for the discussions this week during the annual Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. 


The proposed HFC phase-down amendments are here and here.

The Bangkok Declaration is here.

The Rio declaration, The Future We Want, is here.

Contact Info: Danielle Grabiel in Geneva: +1.202.441.8371, [email protected]

Nathan Borgford-Parnell in Washington, DC: +1.202.338.1300, [email protected]

Website : Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development

ENN Network News – ENN

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Climate-change mitigation and adaptation in small island developing states: the case of rainwater harvesting in Jamaica

Posted by admin on November 1st, 2012

Authors: Marilyn Waite
Publisher: Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy, 2012

This essay looks at climate change impacts on small island developing states (SIDS). It argues that climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies must be developed to cope with changes such as shifting precipitation patterns, increasing evapotranspiration and expanding saline intrusion into coastal aquifers and wells. Using Jamaica as a case study, the paper examines the utility of rainwater harvesting (RWH) in SIDS and answers questions regarding: 1) how much rainwater can be harvested on the island given present and future precipitation patterns; and 2) how much can RWH realistically curb water supply deficits now and in the future. Water resources are also directly linked to many other considerations, including infrastructure, energy, agriculture and the overall economy. The study hopes to stimulate broader reflections on what concrete actions SIDS should take to prepare for the water resource impacts of climate change.

What we mean by:

climate change mitigation (mitigation, global warming mitigation, CCM, atténuation du changement climatique, Eindämmung des Klimawandels, Abschwächung des Klimawandels, atténuation, mitigação do aquecimento global, CCM, mitigación del cambio climático, MCC)
Mitigation refers to actions that reduce our contribution to the causes of climate change. This means reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), through energy efficiency and using alternative forms of transport and energy.(UKCIP) Source: Reegle

climate change (Globale Erwärmung)
Climate change is a lasting change in weather patterns over long periods of time. It can be a natural phenomena and and has occurred on Earth even before people inhabited it. Quite different is a current situation that is also referred to as climate change, anthropogenic climate change, or global warming. This change in weather patterns appears to be happening much faster and is linked to human activity contributing to the greenhouse effect. Source: Reegle

Environment

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