23 May 2020, 5th YGT Talk live started. Chen Xin from SBCVC presented the topic about corporations’ and opportunities under the risks. Luhui Yan from Carbonstop and Li Xia from Chengxinnuo join in the roundtable discussion. This event was jointly hosted by SBCVC、GREENROOT DEVELOPMENT, DBS, DBS Foundation, RESTONE CAPITAL. Luhui's speak mainly focused on the current challenges under COVID-19. Project extension, Budget adjustment and possibly cancellation and work from home were all the challenges we faced. Carbonstop's solution included: 1. update on every week meeting; 2. fight the difficulty with optimistic mind; 3. strategic adjustment: more time and work for basis: database collection and basic development. The unexpected pandemic has negative influence on many enterprises, change the challenge into opportunities and adjustment in time will alleviate the situation.
"2020 World Environment Day Riding Event" starts now! This event is held by organising committee for the ride of the Bohai, CODOON Sports. The event starts from 5 June to 7 June 24:00 and the registration ends in 7 June 22:00. If you ride more than 6.5km and upload your trace of riding, you can get a CODOON badge and rewards. Moreover, if you continue ride with 2020 Bohai riding after this event, you can get more rewards. Carbonstop calculated the carbon reduction of the riding event. every 6,5km riding can reduce 680g CO2e. We hope wen could participate in more activities like this, so every can enjoy the fun from reducing carbon emission action.
Recently, Carbonstop updated the carbon emission factor database, and more product carbon emission factors have been added. Now the data have reached 80,000. Carbon emission factors database is one of functions of Carbonstop mini-program "carbon intelligence", collecting data from different nations/regions and industry. Until 27 September 2019, the database has more than 46,000 data. the total visits reached 12,402 while the search reached 10697.The establishment of the carbon emission factors database is to fulfill the original purpose of building carbon footprints for the low-carbon industry. Therefore, an open, convenient and free data platform is established to enable more industries, companies and even individuals to understand carbon emissions and implement carbon reduction in the future .
目前,Covid-19在全球肆虐,全球200多个国家,300万人感染,混乱,苦难和损失遍布全球,没有人能置身事外。气候变化危机和当前疫情危机最大的共通之处在于,任何一个人的努力都无法减轻风险,除非所有人都采取行动。Covid-19的经验教训也许可以帮助我们来应对不断加剧的气候变化危机。 人类活动是环境问题的根源 由于Covid-19,工厂关闭,石油使用量暴跌,全球碳排放大大减少,之前困扰许久的环境问题被迅速解决。 在处于疫情重灾区的意大利,由于居家隔离和游客数量的减少,威尼斯运河的河水变清了,撒丁岛罕见地见到海豚的出现,特莱维许愿池迎来了新的游客,一对水鸟。 图 威尼斯运河疫情前后 图 特莱维许愿池疫情前后 相信科学 Covid-19展示了相信科学的重要性。流行病学家不断警告病毒在全球范围内传播的可能性,这不是一个“if”的问题,而是“when”的问题。但是,在大多数情况下,这些话都被人们选择性的忽视。 同样,气候科学家数十年来一直警告全球供暖威胁巨大的灾难。流行病也许会促使人们采取更为科学,更为迫切的应对气候变化的方法。气候变化将对人类生活产生更大,更持久的调整。汹涌的大海将导致数百万沿海居民流离失所。洪水和干旱将造成农业破坏和严重的粮食短缺,人们将不得不适应一个又一个不断变化的现实问题。 合作才能共赢 Covid-19,和气候变化一样,无国界,也无法区分国界。各国无法独善其身,单打独斗,来对抗这种病毒。因此,国际行动与合作至关重要。 事实证明,在国家和国际层面上,领导力和政策的明确性对于对抗冠状病毒至关重要。在最初的失败之后,中国和韩国采取了严格而全面的制度来控制这一流行病,而且,也同其他国家分享了他们的经验,提供了帮助和合作机会。 然而,不幸的是,一些国家独断专横,既不同其他国家进行合作,也不学习别国的经验教训,目空一切,最后采取了错误的方式来应对疫情。 在美国,特朗普曾视全球变暖为骗局,并让美国退出《巴黎协定》。在Covid-19爆发初期,特朗普又以类似的态度,忽视和处理疫情。尽管事后,特朗普调整了政策,但却浪费了宝贵的时间。截止目前,美国累计确诊逼近100万,美国现已成为 Covid-19的世界中心。 在巴西,博尔索纳罗(他同样也拒绝相信气候变化)将Covid-19描述为幻想,认为只是普通感冒,并暗示这是中国削弱其他国家经济的阴谋,对疫情不作为。目前,他因为消极抗疫而陷入政治孤立。 总结 当前的经济模式是气候危机和全球其他危机的根本原因。当前的经济模式重视眼前的收益,而忽视了未来成本,它基于利润优化和股东价值,而很少关注外部性。Covid-19清楚地说明了利润优化产生的危险。由于生产,加工和分销价格便宜且低于标准,导致了传染病的发生,而对更多,更便宜生产的追求创造了庞大的商品和人员分销网络,使病毒得以快速传播。制定有关标准和采取相关预防措施尽管会带来额外的成本和麻烦,但和传染病爆发造成的损失相比,这些都显得微不足道。 气候变化具有相同的根本原因。只要不用承担外部性负担,企业就会尽可能多地生产和消费以满足人们过多的生活方式需求。在这种情况下,采取如碳排放交易市场或碳税的一些措施,也许并不完美,但却是推动气候变化外部性的一个良好的开始。 展望 为应对气候变化,Covid-19以及正在进行中的其他产生外部性的活动,我们需要建立一种新的经济体系,该经济体系应能解决外部因素的问题。这种新的体系需要有新的生产方法和技术,最重要的是,需要有来自消费者更适度的要求。我们已拥有建立新经济和新社会的一切基础,所有的乐高积木都摆在我们面前,如果采取了正确的措施,一个更美好,更公正的世界可能就在不远的将来。
我们做对的事,没有人会知道 我们做错的事,全世界都会知道 ——某地震专家 目前,新冠肺炎已席卷了包括中国在内的全球近100个国家,面对这种山雨欲来风满楼,全球疫情随时可能大爆发的局面,不知道有没有人想过,如果当初湖北早些采取措施,如果国际上早些借鉴中国的疫情防护措施,那么局面会不会要比现在要好的多。 国家高级别专家组组长、中国工程院院士钟南山团队的研究表明,若湖北早5天干预,感染人数或减少三分之二,若湖北推迟5天干预,疫情规模会扩大3倍,感染人数将超过35万人。 无知和弱小不是生存的障碍,傲慢才是。2019年3月4日,中国科学院院士、中国疾病预防控制中心主任高福在接受采访时表示,“SARS样病毒随时可能有,但是SARS事件不会再有。我国传染病监测网络建设得很好,病毒来了我们可以挡住它。”然而仅仅9个月后,新冠肺炎疫情爆发,感染人数、死亡人数远超2003年的非典!一句“可防可控,有限人传人”成为了2020年迄今为止最大的笑柄。 人类从历史中学到的唯一的教训,就是没有从历史中吸取到任何教训。据研究表明,新型冠状病毒的来源是非法销售的野生动物,和非典的病毒来源如出一辙。根据《自然》杂志发表于2008年的一篇论文统计,1940-2004年间人类新出现的300多例传染病当中,人畜共患病的比例为60.3%,其中71.8%来自于野生动物。因此,管好嘴就是预防新型传染病的最佳方式。2020年2月24日,全国人民代表大会常务委员会通过决定,全面禁止非法野生动物交易。希望疫情过后,野生动物能够逐渐从国人的餐桌上消失。 2020年注定是个多事之秋,除新冠疫情外,澳洲大火连烧5个月,12亿生灵惨死,南极出现20℃以上高温,冰川消融,沙漠蝗灾肆虐东非,已蔓延至南亚,气候变化导致的一系列灾难已裹挟了全人类,人类活动导致地球生态系统遭受了前所未有的打击。保护环境,减少排放,刻不容缓。 全球变暖,是一个缓慢的气候变化,在年复一年中逐步积累,在潜移默化中产生深刻影响,最终会在量变后达到质变。而一旦触及临界点,将会对人类造成毁灭性的打击,火山海啸频发,食物供应链中断,冰冻病毒释放等,任何一种情景的爆发,都足以毁灭全人类。 和地震预测一样,全球气候变暖的研究和预测是基于现有事实和理论知识,对未来可能发生事件的预估,两者都带有极大的不确定性,对了,理所当然,错了,千夫所指。和地震预测不同的是,地震预测终将会被验证,地震造成的损失也是可以估量的。而全球变暖一旦触及临界点,危害之大,规模之广,将难以估量,造成的损失极有可能无法挽救。 如果我们采取行动,控制住了全球变暖,上述严重气候灾害事件就不会发生,而如果这些严重气候灾害事件没有发生的话,那我们怎么证明全球变暖的研究和预测是正确的呢。这就形成了一个悖论,全球变暖的研究和预测某种程度上是无法被验证的。以本次疫情为例,如果我们采取措施,控制住了疫情,那我们怎么知道疫情会有如此大的传染力和破坏力,如果我们不知道这些,我们又怎么会重视并在疫情初期就采取防控措施呢。如果武汉在一开始就控制住了疫情,那么滥食野生动物的恶习是不是仍会屡禁不止,国人是不是还会把野生动物当作美食佳肴,未来是不是还会爆发出因食用野生动物导致的传染病。可以说,即使没有COVID-19,也会有COVID-29或其他的类似传染病。 疫情爆发了,我们有几千年来的经验可以借鉴,我们可以采取一系列的措施进行补救。而全球变暖导致的极端气候灾害事件,在人类有限的文字记载中,基本找不到可以借鉴的内容。“起初,没有人在意这一场灾难,这不过是一场山火、一次旱灾、一个物种的灭绝、一座城市的消失,直到这场灾难和每个人息息相关。”但愿流浪地球所描述的情景不会发生,但愿我们可以在地球生生不息地繁衍下去。 我们无法向那些对全球变暖持怀疑态度的人去验证全球变暖的真伪性,不是不能,而是我们无法承受验证的代价。我们只能尽可能地尽自己的一份力去保护环境,保护地球,保护我们的家园。种一棵树,最好的时间是十年前,其次是现在。往者不可谏,来者犹可追。希望我们可以从自身做起,从身边的小事做起,少用一度电,少用一滴水,少用一张纸。
编者按 目前我们已经可以获取到海量数据了,随着监测手段越来越丰富,包括卫星、传感设备的广泛应用,数据每时每刻都在从不同的国家、不同的山川、不用的设备以及不同的人身上产生。 联合国平台、各国政府、科学部门以及私营部门都采取了大量的措施来获取数据。过多的数据,尤其是过度无序的数据正成为科学界、商界等新的烦扰。 从某种程度上讲,我们并不缺少数据,但是如何从海量数据中挖掘出有价值的信息,并翻译成真实社会中所能理解的语言;如何基于社会和人的基本需求开发数据来解决环境问题,正在成为新的挑战。 “数据固然重要,但我们的目标是解决环境问题,我们需要基于数据采取行动,而不仅仅是对数据进行分析。 ” 气候危机是人类面临的共同挑战。近些年,众多地区、国家和企业都宣布了其应对气候变化的碳减排甚至碳中和目标,欧盟和英国都宣布2050年达到碳中和,中国也承诺2030年比2005年碳强度减少60%-65%。目标有了,问题也来了,微观层面怎么实施?先进的科学技术是实现碳减排的重要工具,而大数据等新技术也正发挥着帮助人类减缓和适应气候变化的独特价值。 大数据是指将数量巨大、杂乱无序的数据进行高速、有效加工,形成高质量、有价值的数据信息的技术。其实说大数据是新技术也有些牵强,几十年前就有了数据挖掘这样的技术,而大数据是数据挖掘技术在基础设施(数据处理时间和空间能力等)升级上的产物。 数据量,无论是大还是小,能够服务于社会和人的需求才是有价值的资源。例如疫情期间杭州采用的健康码,通过自我填报结合后台大数据验证的方式,为疫情防控,阻断传播做出了特别贡献。而本次中国三大通讯运营商的短信查找近期访问地以控制疫情扩散的功能,也是把数据充分应用于业务场景发挥到了极致,真正帮助社会系统提升了效率。中国的大数据红利时代也正在到来。 我们此刻的语境是应对气候变化,解决环境问题。我们的目标是减少碳足迹以及提升社会系统的效率。大数据应用于气候变化的领域有很多,比如采集气象数据预测分析气候变化趋势、验证人类活动对气候变化造成的影响等。 Google利用卫星图像和数十年的海量数据对乌尔米亚湖的环境损害进行评估和分析,并采取正确的应对措施;中国科学院利用大数据对地区环境污染状况进行监测和评估等;IBM通过大数据帮助Vestas提升风力发电机精准定位、实现最优能源输出的效果。 这些应用都非常有价值,但听起来似乎离我们每个人还稍微有点远,也并不是本文的重点。本文主要目的是希望分享和分析大数据在人们触手可及的生活场景中有哪些成熟或者潜在的应用,让数据助力我们每个人参与应对气候变化以及环境问题。我们并不缺乏数据,而是缺乏利用数据的工具,通过数据建立人与人、人与物就可持续议题的互动,这是我们希望看到的,也是最高效应对气候变化的方式。笔者认为大数据应对气候变化应该朝着这几个方向努力:高频、触手可及、有趣而有意义。 首先分享一个应用案例:高德近期与北京市交通委合作,在高德地图里推出了北京地铁公交拥挤程度的直观展示,这是一个典型的通过数据的共融合作来为民众提供低碳服务的案例。 为什么说这是一个低碳服务,因为乘客在知道拥挤程度后才可能选择更合适(体验更好)的交通出行方式。数据透明给了乘客乘坐地铁公交的更大可能,这样才更容易推动公众参与低碳环保,为应对气候变化做出自己的贡献。 参与低碳环保固然是崇高的行为,但首先也需要尊重人性,只有符合人性的方向和行动才是最容易推进的,才能事半功倍。公共服务要努力做到不伤用户体验(当然也不追求奢侈),这才是当下推动低碳环保事业的金钥匙。这也就是为什么现在很多人宁愿选择公交车而不是地铁出行的原因,因为至少很多时候公交并没有地铁那么拥挤。笔者一直也在思考,要让公众积极参与到低碳环保中,首先是需要让其自发自愿地参与,而不是精神上的被迫行为,不是道德绑架。 这个案例就基本符合上面说的大数据应用于公众低碳环保的几个必要条件:高频、触手可及、有趣而有意义。乘坐地铁公交是每个人几乎每天都要发生的高频行为,手机应用触手可及,通过类似电池电量的展现形式新颖有趣,能引导公众更合理地采取地铁公共交通方式,为低碳环保做出合理的贡献,这个创新意义重大。 另一个将数据应用于低碳领域并且与消费者建立强互动的案例来自于美国家庭能源管理公司Opower。Opower的商业模式是为电力公司进行数据分析,将数据分析结果反馈给终端用户,从而为电力公司赢得市场竞争力。他们最大的一个亮点是为用户提供节约能源的增值服务,他们在给用户发送电力消费账单的时候,会同时提供用户的邻居正在节能减排的信息。 一般而言,人们不会为了公众的利益而主动减少能源消费,这是一个当前无法驳斥的事实。但是为了不在邻里亲朋面前丢面子,他们就会这样做。告诉人们他们的邻居正在节能减排,他们自身就会开始注意节能。通过数据和行为刺激助力于减少用户的能源消费,这比起强制停电等办法更容易被人接受。“高频、触手可及、有趣而有意义”的大数据应用条件同样适用于这个案例,尤其是“有趣而有意义”这一点更是体现得淋漓尽致——利用心理因素的驱动,促使更多人参与到低碳环保行动中。 我们在分析如何利用大数据减少社会的碳排放,而数据因自身的产生、存储以及传输而产生的巨大碳排放也绝不可忽视。要让数据服务于社会,首先就需要让数据本身变得清洁。2009年的时候,Google曾经对外公布,每完成一次搜索操作所产生的二氧化碳排放量为0.2克;而美国哈佛大学的物理学家阿历克斯·维兹纳尔·格罗斯则称,每一次搜索所产生的二氧化碳排放量高达7克。 国际环保组织绿色和平的“Clicking Clean”报告对全球领先的科技公司的数据中心能源使用情况进行了盘点和排名。 “Clicking Clean”报告对BAT等中国科技巨头的数据中心用能情况进行的排名显示,中国企业在清洁数据中心这个领域都处于相对较低的位置,虽然这与中国的主要电力来源是煤电有直接关系,但走向全球的中国科技企业要参与全球竞争,在节能环保领域还有很大的进步空间。 相对来说,数据基本都是被政府和科技巨头们掌控,如何分享数据,在应对气候变化领域共融合作是下一步各方的主要发力点。美国白宫通过分享政府的气候变化相关数据(https://www.data.gov/climate)鼓励私营部门利用政府公开数据,开发更多的应用于减缓和适应气候变化的项目和工具,这是非常值得鼓励的尝试。 当然除了数据本身,人工智能等技术手段能将数据的价值充分挖掘并发挥出来,这需要我们更多的投入,也需要政府和私营部门更深入的合作,创造更多有价值的工具,通过数据为社会和人类的决策提供科学准确的依据。
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- China's efforts to afforest about a quarter of its land remain resolute as the annual tree planting day of the capital city Beijing falls on Saturday amid dwindling cases of locally transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) nationwide. The country plans to increase the afforested areas by 101 million mu (about 6.7 million hectares) by the end of this year, in order to fulfill a long-term afforestation plan of increasing forest coverage rate to 23.04 percent by 2020, and to 26 percent by 2035. Forest coverage rate stood at 22.96 percent by mid-March. The epidemic will not substantially affect China's afforestation progress this year, said Zhang Jianguo, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Forestry. He noted that current horticultural technology allows for far longer periods in a year suitable for planting trees. Even so, many people across China have rolled up their sleeves to try to make up for being days behind the greening schedule. Trees most suitable to grow in spring, like smoke bush and apricot, were planted first to save time, while migrant workers in provinces like Jiangxi and Hebei who could not return to their workplaces due to travel restrictions were recruited to further the cause. During China's annual National Tree Planting Day on March 12, when many quarantine rules were still in place, municipalities nationwide kept shovels wielding with innovative touches. Southwest China's Chongqing instructed volunteers to keep "a safe distance" from each other when planting trees, while other cities assembled small groups of volunteers to plant trees on behalf of hundreds of public-spirited residents. Chongqing ended up adding 230,000 trees to its green expanse on this year's Arbor Day, local data showed. Local governments have sought to facilitate work resumption for horticultural projects, with the city of Qinhuangdao in Hebei connecting suppliers with construction firms in the absence of its annual seedling trade fair that was canceled over COVID-19 concerns. As there is no quarantining of love for nature, those who were unable to plant trees themselves have chipped in through "cloud planting." The country's internet-based greening campaign allows residents to adopt trees by paying due contributions online or garner enough credits on the mobile payment app Alipay by performing low-carbon activities like renting a bike or taking public transportation in exchange for a real tree to be nurtured in their names. "I hope to see my eight-year-old grandson grow up with the seedling I adopted and to teach him about protecting the environment," said Cai, a 60-year-old Shanghai local who adopted a magnolia tree in the city's botanical garden. China has vowed to maintain its efforts to promote greening despite the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, as was reflected in an earlier State Council circular urging region-specific approach in the respect. Official data showed the country had fulfilled 12.9 percent of the annual afforestation target by early March, and 92 percent of forest enterprises outside the COVID-19 hardest-hit Hubei Province had resumed business activities by March 22. Source: Renmin Author: Xinhua Date: April 03, 2020
BERLIN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- China played an important role in facilitating the final signing of the Paris Agreement, and will "100 percent" fulfill its promises on climate action, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday in an interview with Reuters. China is the largest developing country, and the process of industrialization has not yet been completed, Wang said, noting that it is necessary to speed up the development process so that the Chinese people can lead a better life. Meanwhile, China, as a major country, is willing to shoulder its due international responsibilities and obligations, Wang said. For a country with a population of 1.4 billion, fulfilling its promises on reducing emissions is the biggest contribution to the world and the human development, Wang said. China has completed its annual emission reduction target per unit of GDP ahead of schedule over the past years, and it is now home to half of the world's new energy vehicles. Its installed capacity for renewable energy accounts for one third of the world's total amount, Wang said. China joined the international community in combating climate change with solid actions, not with slogans, Wang noted. He also said China insists on the new development concepts of innovation, coordination, green development, openness and sharing, and strives to realize sustainable and high-quality development. China and Europe have complementary advantages on green development, and China is willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in this regard, he said. Source: Renmin Author: Xinhua Date: February 16, 2020
BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China has achieved much progress in environmental protection and taken the lead in green development in recent years. The efforts have exemplified Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal of "working together for a green and better future for all" made a year ago in his speech at the opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 Beijing. In the keynote speech, Xi proposed a five-point initiative on promoting green development, namely pursuing harmony between man and nature, pursuing the prosperity based on green development, fostering a passion for nature-caring lifestyle, pursuing a scientific spirit in ecological governance, and joining hands to tackle environmental challenges. China's hard work on environment protection has paid off. The ecological environment has improved significantly. People are enjoying more days of blue sky, cleaner water, and fertile land. China has achieved the goal of zero growth of desertified land by 2030 set by the United Nations ahead of time. Besides, forest stock volume increased by 4.56 billion cubic meters compared with that of 2005. Carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2018 fell by 45.8 percent compared with that of 2005, exceeding the target set for the year. After more than 30 years of hard work, the seventh largest desert in China, the Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, once known as the "sea of death" difficult for birds to fly across, has turned into a green valley. In January 2020, in a letter in reply to the student representatives of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate, the Chinese president mentioned his thoughts about ecological civilization in his youth. "Over four decades ago, I lived and worked for many years in a small village on the Loess Plateau in western China. Back then, the ecology and environment there was seriously damaged due to over-development and the local people were trapped in poverty as a result," Xi wrote. "This experience taught me that man and nature are a community of life and that the damage done to nature will ultimately hurt mankind," said Xi. China's progress and achievements are recognized worldwide. The ecological civilization and green development advocated by China are actually an endeavor to find a way to balance economic development and environmental protection, said John Cobb, Jr., the founding president of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China and member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Noting that the endeavor is a remarkable exploration, he expressed his hope that it will succeed. China is on the right path in dealing with global climate change and achieving sustainable development, said Borge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum. In addition to making efforts at home, China has also rolled out a series of measures to support the global combat against climate change. In September 2015, ahead of the Paris climate change conference, Xi pledged a 20-billion-yuan (3-billion-U.S. dollars) China South-South Climate Cooperation Fund, which was dedicated to help other developing countries combat climate change. China has also been fulfilling the obligations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and achieved the goal of its intended nationally determined contributions submitted to the secretariat of the Climate Change Convention as scheduled. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his appreciation for China's important contributions to addressing the climate change and building a green "Belt and Road," and said he expects China to continue to play a leading role in addressing the climate change and other issues. "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," a concept put forward by Xi in 2005 when he visited Yucun Village in southeast China's Zhejiang Province as the party chief of the province, has become the motto of the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. In March 2020, when Xi returned to Yucun, he said that economic development should not be achieved at the expense of the ecological environment. To protect the ecological environment is to develop the productive forces, he said. The history of civilizations shows that the rise or fall of a civilization is closely tied to its relationship with nature, Xi said at the International Horticultural Exhibition last year. Only by joining hands can the humankind advance a global ecological civilization and march towards the bright future of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Source: Renmin Author: Xinhua Date: April 29, 2020
UPS announced the company will commemorate World Environment Day on June 5 by matching the carbon offsets of all packages shipped via its carbon neutral program during the month of June. UPS carbon neutral counterbalances the estimated carbon impact of each shipment by purchasing certified carbon offsets. To participate, shippers pay a small fee to offset the carbon footprint of shipping their packages then UPS will match these offsets throughout June. This is essentially doubling the shipper’s impact thereby allowing the shipper to potentially net out “carbon negative” in June. The per package flat rate price for the optional service is $0.05 for UPS® ground services and $0.20 for UPS Next Day Air®, UPS 2nd Day Air® and UPS 3 Day Select® services. “There is truly no better way to honor World Environment Day than to facilitate actions that will help the planet,” said Suzanne Lindsay-Walker, UPS chief sustainability officer (CSO) and vice president of environmental affairs. “UPS hopes to create more awareness about our carbon neutral shipping option so additional customers will take advantage of it, thus helping to fund large-scale carbon reduction programs and reduce the total carbon impact of shipping on the environment.” UPS started its carbon neutral program in 2010 and offsets more than 60 million packages annually for customers, which equates to more than 100,000 metric tonnes of carbon offset each year. UPS has supported projects worldwide that include forestation, landfill gas destruction, and wastewater treatment. UPS carbon neutral option is verified by Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), an inspection, testing, and verification company. Additionally, UPS’s carbon offset process adheres to The CarbonNeutral Protocol from Natural Capital Partners. UPS’s carbon neutral offering is just one way the company is helping shippers reduce their impact on the environment. Customers can also choose more sustainable last mile delivery options and solutions designed for more efficient returns. One option is to direct packages to UPS Access Point® locations(such as The UPS Store, CVS pharmacy, Michaels or Advance Auto Parts) whereconsolidated deliveries can take place for multiple consumers preventing several delivery attempts to a single residence. On the returns front, UPS works with a company called Optoro, using its returns optimization platform that helps shippers maximize recovery value and reduce items going to landfills. Additionally, customers can participate in UPS’s Eco Responsible Packaging Program or UPS can conduct a carbon impact analysis on their shipping. Furthermore, customers benefit from the carbon reduction efforts UPS undertakes in its own operations. During the last decade, UPS has invested more than $1 billion on alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles as well as supporting infrastructure. The company is now the largest user of renewable natural gas in the transportation industry and has a specialized alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet of more than 10,300 vehicles. Recently, UPS announced plans to purchase more than 6,000 natural gas trucks through 2022. And, in January, UPS announced an investment in the UK-based technology startup firm Arrival and committed to buy 10,000 of their electric vehicles. UPS is an important part of its customers’ supply chains and continues to offer sustainability solutions that impact their value chains. Source:STAT Author:STAT Date:June 2, 2020
May was the sunniest calendar month on record, and spring was the sunniest spring, the Met Office has said. The UK enjoyed 266 hours of sunshine in May - surpassing the previous record of 265 hours in June 1957. And it is even more extraordinary following a drenching winter, with record rain in February. Meteorologists say they are amazed at the sudden switch from extreme wet to extreme dry – it is not "British" weather. Big turnaround for UK weather in 2020 UK's sunniest spring since records began Climate concerns grow amid wettest February on record On average the UK gets 436 hours of sunshine between March and the end of May. Since 1929, only 10 years have had more than 500 hours. And none has got more than 555 hours. Scientists say the recent weather in the UK has been unprecedented and astounding. This year we've bathed in an extraordinary 626 hours - smashing the previous record by a “staggering” amount, one Met Office worker said. It is because the jet stream has locked the fine weather in place, just as it locked the previous winter rainfall in place. The Met Office declared February 2020 as the wettest February on record Professor Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, told BBC News: “We’ve swung from a really unsettled spell with weather systems coming in off the Atlantic to a very, very settled spell. “It’s unprecedented to see such a swing from one extreme to the other in such a short space of time. That’s what concerns me. We don’t see these things normally happening with our seasons. “It’s part of a pattern where we’re experiencing increasingly extreme weather as the climate changes.” Mark McCarthy, from the Met Office, said: “If we look at the difference in rainfall that’s fallen over the winter compared to spring it is the largest difference in rainfall amount in our national series from 1862. “The sunshine statistics are really astounding. “The stand out is by how much sunshine has broken the previous record - set in 1948. There’s been more sunshine than most of our past summer seasons. It's quite remarkable." One of his colleagues described the figures as "absolutely staggering". Crowds flocked to the beach at Bournemouth, to enjoy the soaring temperatures on bank holiday Monday last month The Met Office says this year is not an indicator of the future, because the jet stream might behave differently. Scientists suspect man-made climate change may be implicated, but it is too soon to tell. Some of them believe the rapid man-made heating of the Arctic, which has led to record temperatures and wildfires in Siberia, may be influencing the jet stream, although that is not proven. Professor Joe Smith, chief executive of the Royal Geographical Society, told BBC News: "For many people, the recent long sunny spell is simply 'nice weather'. "In a wider context it’s a signal of the increasing unpredictability of the UK’s climate. Planning for the growing season is starting to resemble a night at the gambling tables. “The fact remains that bold early actions to slash emissions can still cut the larger risks associated with climate change in the UK and around the world”. Source:BBC NEWS Author:Roger Harrabin Date:1 June 2020
Antarctica conjures images of an unbroken white wilderness, but blooms of algae are giving parts of the frozen continent an increasingly green tinge. Warming temperatures due to climate change are helping the formation and spread of "green snow" and it is becoming so prolific in places that it is even visible from space, according to new research published on Wednesday. While the presence of algae in Antarctica was noted by long-ago expeditions, such as the one undertaken by British explorer Ernest Shackleton, its full extent was unknown. Now, using data collected over two years by the European Space Agency's Sentinel 2 satellite, together with on the ground observations, a research team from the University of Cambridge and the British Antarctic Survey have created the first map of the algae blooms on the Antarctic Peninsula coast. "We now have a baseline of where the algal blooms are and we can see whether the blooms will start increasing as the models suggest in the future," Matt Davey of the University of Cambridge's Department of Plant Sciences told Reuters. Mosses and lichens are considered the dominant photosynthetic organisms in Antarctica - but the new mapping found 1,679 separate algal blooms that are a key component in the continent's ability to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. "The algal blooms in Antarctica are equivalent to about the amount of carbon that's being omitted by 875,000 average UK petrol car journeys," Davey said. "That seems a lot but in terms of the global carbon budget, it's insignificant. "It does take up carbon from the atmosphere but it won't make any serious dent in the amount of carbon dioxide being put in the atmosphere at the moment." Green is not the only splash of colour in Antarctica. Researchers are now planning similar studies on red and orange algae, although that is proving harder to map from space. Source:the national Author:Reuters Date: May 20, 2020
In 2016, entrusted by Alibaba’s Cainiao, Carbonstop estimated the carbon reduction potential for Alibaba, from four aspects: green transportation, green packing, green recycling, and promote the use of electronic surface sheet, in the next five years (2016-2020), to carry out the promise of "The Green Action Plan".
Based on Cainiao emission reduction plan, in the next five years, the final calculation showed that the total emission reduction will reach 3.62 million tons.
Carbonstop has been updated for the unit carbon emission reduction of Baidu’s green travel. Baidu map has digitized and embodied the low-carbon effect of green transport.
Carbonstop provided Baidu with annual carbon emission accounting services for data centers, smart buildings, commuter cars and charging piles, and quantifies a series of energy saving and emission reduction measures. COP 25 was held in Madrid, Spain. Carbonstop Shared the case of Baidu in the field of low-carbon, sustainable actions and achievements, which attracts international attention.
In 2019, Carbonstop was supported by Vanke foundation to conduct carbon emission reduction accounting for garbage classification in Xishan courtyard community.
In Xishan courtyard community, the amount of waste was investigated according to the actual situation, and the greenhouse gas emission of biological treatment of food waste, composting of garden waste, recycling the recyclable waste, and incineration of other waste were calculated based on the concept of life cycle assessment. Finally, by comparing the difference between garbage classification treatment and garbage un-classification treatment, the carbon emission reductions of three scenarios were calculated respectively.
In 2017, entrusted by Jingdong, Carbonstop quantified emission reduction for its online shopping scenarios and consumption behaviors, helped consumers understand the consumption of the whole year, quantified the green contribution, and enabled consumers to realize the positive impact of purchasing green products online and green consumption behavior on the environment.
This emission reduction accounting focuses on typical green goods and green behaviors, such as purchasing energy-saving goods, choosing green package packaging. In addition, the quantified emission reduction is compared to the public's easy-to-understand behavior of food, clothing, housing and transportation, such as reducing the mileage of driving, reducing the amount of garbage, saving the number of chopsticks, and reducing the use of plastic bags.
A “green” or sustainable meeting “is one designed, organized and implemented in a way that minimizes negative environmental impacts and leaves a positive impact for the host community”, says the Green Meeting Guide, published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Environmental impacts caused by various reporting materials, transportation, accommodation, air conditioning and other resources used to host conferences or events include air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, garbage, and consumption of paper, plastic, food and other resources. Therefore, in order to reduce the environmental impact of conferences and activities, in recent years, all countries around the world have strengthened the advocacy and implementation of the "green meeting". Carbonstop worked with UNEP to develop the green conference guide. In order to promote the concept and practice of green conference more widely.
After more than eight years of accumulation, the Carbonstop team has compiled and released a database of carbon emission factors covering more than 260 countries around the world.
At present, the data volume has exceeded 80000 and it is continuously collected and updated, becoming the infrastructure for low-carbon industry to conduct carbon emission accounting.
The carbon emission factor database supports many brand carbon accounting projects, including those of Alibaba, Vanke, Baidu, JD and the United Nations.